SEAToday.com, Kuala Lumpur-On Wednesday (1/31), Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the billionaire sultan who rules Malaysia’s Johor state was sworn in as the 17th King of Malaysia. He took his oath at the palace and signed the proclamation in a ceremony witnessed by other royal families, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Cabinet members.
Sultan Ibrahim has an extensive business empire ranging from real estate to telecoms and power plants. That’s why he is named one of the richest men in Malaysia.
Malaysia has a unique rotating monarchy system. Nine ethnic Malay state rulers have taken turns as king for five-year terms under the world’s only such system since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. Malaysia has 13 states but only nine have royal families, some that trace their roots to centuries-old Malay kingdoms that were independent states until they were brought together by the British.
The monarch largely plays a ceremonial role, but the king’s political influence has grown in recent years. Sultan Ibrahim on his part had expressed to be an active monarch and maintain a “hand-on approach”. (DKD)
