Malaysian king, prime minister in conflict over appointment as constitutional crisis looms - AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's ruling party struggled Monday to resolve a dispute pitting the prime minister against the country's king in an unprecedented constitutional crisis over the appointment of a state leader.

The royal row in Terengganu state is the first time that Malaysia's constitutional monarchy has openly come in conflict with the political leadership, adding to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's numerous headaches as he fights for political survival.

Abdullah is under pressure to resign after the ruling National Front coalition suffered heavy losses in the March 8 general elections, retaining power but losing its traditional-two thirds parliamentary majority as well as control of five state legislatures.

His latest problem is over the appointment of the chief minister of the northeastern state of Terengganu, where the National Front won the election. Abdullah's United Malays National Organization, the main party in the National Front, wants incumbent Idris Jusoh to continue leading the state.

But the palace of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is the titular head of Terengganu as well as the current king of Malaysia, appointed Ahmad Said, another UMNO lawmaker, as the chief minister on Saturday, taking the country by surprise.

Malaysia's royalty consists of nine hereditary state sultans, who rotate as Malaysia's king and perform ceremonial duties including appointing state chief ministers.

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