However, the monarchy was revived as a cultural institution in 1999 when Djafar Syah was enthroned in distressed outer circumstances.

[1] Under Djafar's tenure, Husain Alting held the title Kapita Laut (a Portuguese-Malay expression literally meaning sea captain).

As such he was active during the Maluku sectarian conflict between 1999 and 2001 and led a group of traditional dignitaries in a peace mission in Halmahera.

After the death of Sultan Djafar Syah in 2012, the local headmen appointed Husain, who is not closely related to the deceased.

He has strongly promoted the appointment of Sultan Zainal Abidin Alting (r. 1947–1967) as a Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian national hero).