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Malaysia’s new king Sultan Ibrahim ascends to the throne

arifnsn January 31, 2024

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Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor began his five-year term at the head of Malaysia’s unique rotating monarchy on Wednesday, at a time of mounting political intrigue over a corruption crackdown and rumours of a royal pardon for convicted ex-prime minister Najib Razak.

In a royal blue uniform, with gold-plated sabre in his hand, the 65-year-old monarch arrived in a vintage six-door Mercedes limousine at the national palace for a grand ceremony attended by the country’s nine royal families, political elites and captains of industry.

Sultan Ibrahim and his son, Tunku Ismail Idris – the new regent of Johor – stood out in their military-inspired uniforms among their peers, who wore finely tailored Malay royal court regalia that included the tanjak headdress, the sarong-like sampin and the kris, a ceremonial dagger.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (front, centre) sits with heads of the country’s other royal families during the oath taking ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Photo: AP

The new king officially ascended to the throne after taking his oath of office, flanked by fellow heads of the country’s other royal families. He will formally be referred to as Sultan Ibrahim during his reign, according to a statement from the national palace.

“I, with all my ability, will at all times preserve Islam, and stand firmly for fair administration and peace in the country,” he said when taking his oath as cannons were fired outside the palace to mark the start of his reign.

His ascension to the throne was decided by a meeting in October last year of the Conference of Rulers, a council comprising the rulers and governors of Malaysia’s states that voted in favour of Sultan Ibrahim.

Malaysia’s new king sounds early warning to lawmakers: ‘I’m with the people’

He succeeds Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, whose last day as king on Tuesday was dominated by fevered rumours – reported and then retracted in local media – that he may have granted a reprieve to disgraced former prime minister Najib, who is serving a 12-year jail term for corruption linked to the scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Sultan Ibrahim’s reign begins as the Malaysian public looks for greater leadership from the country’s king to help heal caustic divisions among bickering politicians, which led Anwar Ibrahim to emerge as prime minister 14 month ago, but has also forced his government to fend off plots to unseat him.

A fresh political skirmish is shaping up after a corruption crackdown that snagged Anwar’s rivals, including the family of two-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, a former mentor turned bitter political enemy of the current leader.

Before becoming monarch, Sultan Ibrahim warned Malaysia’s politicians that he would not entertain any of the machinations that forced his predecessor to oversee two changes of government in as many years.

“There are 222 of you in parliament. There are over 30 million [Malaysians] outside. I’m not with you, I’m with them,” the ruler said in an interview with Singapore’s The Straits Times newspaper published in December.

Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, arrives to take part in the oath-taking ceremony on January 31. Photo: EPA-EFE

Fast cars – and the Flintmobile

In addition to his forthright reputation, Sultan Ibrahim – a helicopter pilot who has trained with American special forces – is renowned for his enjoyment of the high life.

In 2015, he made headlines when he received delivery of his custom Mack sleeper truck, replete with two flat-screen televisions, premium bedding and seats lined with 72,000 stitches of gold thread. His car collection includes a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, a white-and-neon blue Bugatti Veyron and a life-size replica of a foot-powered ‘car’ made famous in the cartoon The Flintstones.

Sultan Ibrahim lists polo as his favourite sport, though he also enjoys playing tennis, sailing, competitive shooting and parachuting, according to his official biography.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s new Flintstone-style car is seen on the back of a lorry in Johor Bharu, Malaysia, in 2018. Photo: Johor Royal Press Office Handout via EPA-EFE

On the business end, Malaysia’s new king and his family have interests spanning property to telecommunications, a portfolio he defends citing the Johor royal family’s tradition of being involved in business.

Speaking in 2015 he said it was “healthy” for royalty to be involved in legitimate businesses instead of being involved in dubious dealings that would end up tarnishing the royal institution.

“I must earn a living, like ordinary Malaysians,” Sultan Ibrahim said in an interview with The Star.

Among the most prominent projects backed by the ruler is the troubled Forest City development in his home state of Johor, with business activities across the value chain linked back to the ruler, according to a 2016 study on the project.

Back in bloom? Malaysia seeks to revive China-backed Forest City megaproject

Sultan Ibrahim is also reportedly a substantial shareholder in KAJ Development, the developer of the recently-revived 43 billion ringgit (US$9.1 billion) Melaka Gateway port project.

His daughter, Tunku Tun Aminah, is a substantial shareholder of rail firm Berjaya Rail, which is part of a consortium looking to put in a bid for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high speed rail project.

In 2013, Chinese firm Guangzhou R&F Properties Co signed a deal with the Johor royal family to buy 116 acres of land in Johor Bahru worth 4.5 billion ringgit.

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