REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By Ikhwanul Kiram

This article is review of the two Muhammad whom were grandchildren of Abdul Aziz, the founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two Muhammad on last April appointed by the King of Saudi, Salman bin Abdul Aziz, as the crown prince and deputy crown prince. The first Muhammad was son of Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz and the second was son of King Salman.

In the hierarchy of power in Arabia, the number one is certainly the king. The second person and the third is the crown prince and deputy crown prince. If at any time the king died, then automatically replaced by the crown prince and deputy crown prince climbed to the crown prince.

Media in the Middle East considered the turnover of the crown prince and deputy crown prince as outside the norm alias emergency. Replacement of the Saudi rulers was usually done when the previous king or crown prince was death. As happened, when Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz died on October 22, 2011. When the position as crown prince was replaced by his brother, Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. Nayef was died in 2012, the post of crown prince was replaced by Salman bin Abdul Aziz.

When appointed Salman as a crown prince, King Abdullah at the same time also appointed Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz as a deputy crown prince. The latter was a new position that previously did not exist. When King Abdullah passed away in January, Salman automatically replaced him as a king and Muqrin became a crown prince. The vacant position of crown prince then filled by Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz.

The Trio of Saudi rulers – King Salman, crown prince Muqrin, and deputy crown prince Muhammad – those whom control the Kingdom of Saudi since January. It including when they were leading a coalition of ten countries to demolish the military bases militia al Khauthi in Yemen.

However, without there was news related illness or another obstacle about royal duty, on last April Prince Muqrin suddenly removed from his position as crown prince. He was replaced by Muhammad bin Nayef, whom previously served as deputy crown prince. Simultaneously, King Salman also appointed his own son, Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, as deputy crown prince.

In terms of age, Raja Salman is now 80 years old, Muqrin 70 years old, Muhammad bin Nayef 56 years old, and Muhammad bin Salman 30 years old. Its means, Muqrin’s age actually not too old, especially when compared to the kings of Arabia were generally died at the age of 80 years. King Abdullah, who died in January aged 91 years old. Moreover, in the history of the Saudi kingdom, there were not the king or crown prince whom changed in the middle of the tenure except died. Muqrin had just served as crown prince for four months.

It was why the turnover of the crown prince and deputy crown prince on last April considered a sudden and, therefore, gained widespread attention of various media in the Middle East. Aljazeera called the turnover this time was out of the ordinary. Saudi arabia’s media which publish in London, al Sharq al Awsat, stated that the turnover of the crown prince and deputy crown to generation of Abdul Aziz grandson was for the sake of continuity and order of the Saudi kingdom’s households. While King Salman in his decree stating the dismissal of Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz was the request of the Prince.

Yes, 'out of the ordinary, for the sake of continuity and neatness in the royal household, and at the prince’s request that's probably the key to the turnover which made by the King Salman on this time. With the appointment of two Muhammad became crown prince and deputy crown prince, the future of the Saudi kingdom will be in the hands of the grandchildren generation of the kingdom founder. King Salman on this time, after the dismissal of Prince Muqrin as crown prince, will be the last king of second-generation of kingdom founder.

Although Muhammad, the deputy crown prince was the son of King Salman, but the appointment must be approved by an institution, namely 'Haiatu al bai'at'. Institutions formed by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in 2006 seemed to prepare and simultaneously anticipate when the Saudi rulers will fall on the generation of grandchildren. Moreover, the number of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Abdul Aziz have thousands.

In Article 5 of the power system in Haiatu al bai'at stated: 'The system of power in Saudi Arabia is a kingdom. The rulers are elected from children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the kingdom founder of King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman al Faisal al Saud. From them, it will be selected from the most capable and will be inducted based on Qur'an and Sunati Rasulillah (Hadith).

Haiatu al bai'at consists of 35 people, representing the sons of Abdul Aziz, amounting to 36 people. This institution was headed by Prince Masy'al, the eldest of 13 sons of Abdul Aziz, who was still alive. For election of crown prince and deputy's crown prince, the king handed one to three names to the institution. This institution then approves or reject by consensus or secret ballot of the members.

If the candidate of the king rejected, Haiatu al bai'at institution will deliver a series of names (one to three people) to the king. The king then chooses between them. If the king refused the name proffered by institution, then the candidates nominated by the king and institution competed in the election of the closed members of the institutions.

Candidates who have been approved and have been well approved by the king and then institution then announced by the king as crown prince and deputy crown prince, and then carried out the inauguration procession. The crown prince will automatically become the ruler when the king passed away. Likewise when the crown prince passed away, then the position will be replaced by deputy crown prince. Before Haiatu al bai'at was formed, the crown prince position appointed by the king.

It was interesting, listening to a trio of new Saudi rulers - the king, the crown prince and deputy crown prince – now. If it viewed from the side of the age, they represent three generations. 80-year-old King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef aged 53 years old, and deputy crown prince Muhammad bin Salman aged 30 years old.

In addition to the crown prince, Muhammad bin Nayef was also appointed as deputy of Minister Assembly (prime minister), the minister of home affairs and head of the political and state security agencies. While representatives of the crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, concurrently became second vice of Minister Assembly, defense minister and chairman of the economic institutions and the country development.

We would still be waiting to see how the doings of Saudi rulers trio from different generations. Saudi position has been considered very important not only for the countries of the bay (Bay Cooperation), but also to the Arab League and the Muslims. Besides Mecca and Medina, the important institutions were also based in Saudi. Such as the IDB (Islamic Development Bank), the OKI (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), Muslem World League (Rabita Alam Islami), and the Association of Islamic Media.

Besides, the challenges in the Middle East are also getting bigger. From al Khauti problem in Yemen, ISIS and radical groups which has now spread to countries, conflicts in Syria and Libya, until the issue of the Palestinian people.

A number of media in the Middle East - Aljazeera, al Sharq al Awsat and al Ahram –optimist that Arabia will take a greater role in Arab states and Muslims. They pointed to how the Saudi lead a coalition to attack militia al Khauthi in Yemen. And the field staff of the attack turned out to be two young princes, Muhammad bin Nayef and Muhammad bin Salman.

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