KUALA LUMPUR, (Reuters): In a ceremony held on Wednesday, Sultan Ibrahim, the affluent and outspoken ruler of Malaysia’s southern Johor state, took the oath of office to become the country’s new king. Malaysia practices a distinctive rotational monarchy, where the heads of the nation’s nine royal families assume the role of king for a five-year term in turns.
While the monarchy traditionally holds a ceremonial position, its influence has grown in recent years due to prolonged political instability, allowing the king to exercise seldom-used discretionary powers.
The constitutional monarchy, established after Malaysia gained independence from Britain, involves the election of the king by the nine rulers every five years through a secret ballot. The original order of rotation, based on seniority, was later amended after each royal family completed a term, and they now take turns based on the initial order.
Sultan Ibrahim, aged 65, traces his lineage to the 16th century sultanate in Johor. Despite the monarchy’s perceived apolitical nature, Sultan Ibrahim is recognized for his outspoken views on governance and maintains a positive relationship with the prime minister.
Beyond his royal duties, Sultan Ibrahim is renowned for his extensive collection of luxury cars and motorbikes. He holds diverse business interests ranging from real estate to mining, with one of his companies involved in a joint venture with Chinese property developer Country Garden (2007.HK) for the development of the $100-billion Forest City project in Johor.
The ruler has actively advocated for a special economic zone between Johor and neighboring Singapore to strengthen ties. He also expressed intentions to revive a stalled high-speed rail project between Malaysia and Singapore.
Johor holds a unique position as the only sultanate permitted to maintain its private army, a concession made during the state’s entry into the Federation of Malaya before Malaysia gained independence in 1957.
Despite the largely ceremonial role played by the monarch, the Malaysian king serves as the custodian of Islam in this Muslim-majority nation. The federal constitution mandates the king to act upon the advice of the prime minister and cabinet, with limited exceptions.
Recent political shocks have compelled the monarchy to play a more significant role, notably during the tenure of Sultan Ibrahim’s predecessor, Al-Sultan Abdullah from Pahang state. Sultan Abdullah appointed the last three prime ministers, exercising the king’s power to select a premier with a parliamentary majority.
The king also holds the authority to pardon individuals convicted of crimes. In a notable case in 2018, then-Monarch Sultan Muhammad V pardoned Anwar Ibrahim, who was imprisoned on charges he claimed were politically motivated. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently serving jail time for a graft conviction related to state fund 1MDB, has applied for a royal pardon, with the outcome uncertain under the new king’s reign.