Malaysia yesterday installed an outspoken motorcycle-riding king in an elaborate ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition, with the billionaire determined to play a key role in ensuring political stability.
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s new position is largely ceremonial, but has in the past few years featured heavily in the country’s fractured political landscape. In addition to overseeing major political appointments, the king serves as the official head of Islam in the Muslim-majority country and commander-in-chief of its armed forces.
Bloomberg estimates that Sultan Ibrahim and his family, rulers of southern Johor state, are worth at least US$5.7 billion, including land in Singapore and investments in various companies, including in palm oil, real estate and telecommunications.
Photo: AFP
Wearing royal blue ceremonial attire, the 65-year-old took the oath of office in a traditional ceremony at the national palace in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
“With this oath, I solemnly and truly profess to be faithful, to rule fairly for Malaysia in accordance with the laws and the constitution,” Sultan Ibrahim said during a nationally televised event attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other ruling elite.
Sultan Ibrahim was chosen last year by the country’s royalty to be the next head of state. A coronation ceremony is to be held in several months.
Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, with a unique arrangement that sees the throne change hands every five years between the rulers of nine Malaysian states headed by centuries-old Islamic royalty.
Royal intervention has been needed to name prime ministers three times following the collapse of governments and a post-election hung parliament in the past few years.
In an interview with Singapore’s the Straits Times in December last year, Ibrahim said he was not keen on becoming a “puppet king.”
“There’re 222 of you [lawmakers] in parliament. There’re over 30 million [people] outside. I’m not with you, I’m with them,” he was quoted as saying in the broadsheet. “I will support the government, but if I think they are doing something improper, I will tell them.”
The king also wields the power to pardon. In 2018, Sultan Muhammad V, one of Sultan Ibrahim’s predecessors, pardoned Anwar, who had served a jail sentence for sodomy.
Sultan Ibrahim belongs to the wealthy and powerful Johor royal family, the head of which commands a small private army.
He has a close relationship with Anwar and has been outspoken about politics and corruption. Married with six children, he has in the past made annual trips around Johor on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, handing out charity to the poor.
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