- Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, has been sworn in as the new king of Malaysia under its unique rotating monarchy.
- The ceremony, held at the palace, was attended by other members of the royal family, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and cabinet ministers.
- Sultan Ibrahim, one of Malaysia’s richest men, has a wide range of business interests spanning real estate, telecommunications and power plants.
The billionaire sultan who rules Malaysia’s Johor state was sworn in on Wednesday as the country’s new king under its own rotating monarchy.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, took the oath of office and signed the Declaration of Office at the palace in a ceremony attended by other members of the royal family, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and ministers. A coronation ceremony will be held at a later date.
One of the country’s richest men, Sultan Ibrahim has a wide-ranging business empire ranging from real estate to telecommunications to power plants. The outspoken king has close ties to Anwar and his rule could strengthen Anwar’s unity government, which faces strong Muslim opposition.
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Since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957, nine ethnic Malay rulers have taken office for rotating five-year terms under the only such system in the world. Malaysia has 13 states, but only nine have royal families, some with roots dating back centuries. The Kingdom of Malaya was an independent state until it was annexed by Britain.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar receives papers from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his swearing-in ceremony as the 17th King of Malaysia at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on January 31, 2024. (Pool photo via Mohd Rasfan/AP)
Sultan Ibrahim’s election as king by his fellow rulers in October was widely expected based on the established rotational order. Sultan Nazrin Shah, ruler of Perak and second in line to the throne, was reelected as vice king.
What is the role of the king?
The king, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or Lorded One, plays a primarily ceremonial role, with executive power vested in the prime minister and parliament. The monarch is the nominal head of the government and military and is highly regarded as the guardian of Islam and Malay tradition. His consent is required for all laws, the appointment of ministers, and the dissolution of parliament for general elections. The king has the power to declare a state of emergency and pardon criminals.
Sultan Ibrahim succeeded Pahang’s Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who ruled during a turbulent period that included a COVID-19 lockdown and political instability.
The king’s political influence has increased in recent years. Sultan Abdullah has interfered in decisions about who becomes prime minister in the past, including naming Anwar as prime minister after a dysfunctional parliament in the 2022 general election.
King Ibrahim indicated his intention to maintain a pragmatic approach. In an interview with the Singapore Straits Times published last month, he said he did not want to waste his five years on the throne as a “puppet king” but would focus on fighting corruption and strengthening domestic unity. Ta. The king and other rulers have also warned against rebel attempts to oust Anwar’s government, calling instead for political stability.
Who is Sultan Ibrahim?
Sultan Ibrahim, whose mother is British, has also been vocal about welfare issues and takes annual motorbike road trips to meet people in the state.
He also hasn’t kept his wealth a secret. Early Wednesday morning, the Sultan flew from Johor to Kuala Lumpur in a gold and blue private jet, a Boeing 737. In addition to jets, he owns a large collection of cars and motorcycles, as well as real estate overseas. Sultan Ibrahim was also the only ruler to have a private army, a condition agreed upon for the nation to join modern-day Malaysia.
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Sultan Ibrahim’s high profile in business, including his investment in struggling Chinese developer Country Garden and the multi-billion dollar Forest City development project in Johor state. , has raised eyebrows amid concerns about the possibility of a conflict of interest. He told the Singapore Straits Times that he plans to revive the high-speed rail link project with Singapore and strengthen the struggling Forest City project.
However, the sultan defended his business dealings. In 2015, he quipped that since he can’t rely on the $5,700-a-month state subsidy, he “has to make a living like a normal Malaysian.”
His wife, Raja Zaris Sophia, is from another royal family, graduated from Oxford University, and is a prolific writer who has written several children’s books. They have five sons and one daughter.
