Malaysia celebrated the installation of a motorcycle-riding billionaire sultan as its new king in a grand ceremony, symbolizing stability during political turmoil.
The coronation of King Sultan Ibrahim, 65, at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur followed his swearing-in as the country’s 17th monarch in January.
Malaysia follows a constitutional monarchy system where the throne rotates every five years among the rulers of nine Malaysian states with centuries-old Islamic royal lineage.
Although primarily ceremonial, the role of the king has gained significance in recent years.
Royal intervention was necessary to appoint prime ministers three times after government collapses and a hung parliament following the 2018 defeat of scandal-plagued premier Najib Razak.
In addition to overseeing key political appointments, the king is the official head of Islam in the Muslim-majority country and commander-in-chief of its armed forces.
With an estimated net worth of at least $5.7 billion, Sultan Ibrahim and his family, ruling the Johor state near Singapore, have interests in various industries including palm oil, real estate, and telecommunications.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries like Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Clad in traditional attire with a royal headdress, Sultan Ibrahim vowed to uphold the constitution, Islam, and maintain peace in Malaysia.
Anwar congratulated and expressed loyalty to the new king.
Sultan Ibrahim is known for his vocal stance on Malaysian politics and corruption, as well as his moderate religious views. He gained attention in 2017 for demanding an apology from a laundromat owner accused of discrimination.
Married with six children, Sultan Ibrahim has a charitable side, annually touring Johor on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to distribute aid to the needy.
He is also involved in personal business ventures, including a stake in the $100 billion Forest City project off the Johor coast backed by Chinese investors.
The king, known for his luxury car collection, private jets, and passion for polo, is also an officer in the national armed forces with military training in the US.
Sultan Ibrahim’s educational background includes studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the US, focusing on Southeast Asian Strategic Studies and International Law of the Sea.
The last time a Johor sultan ascended to the throne was in 1984 when Sultan Ibrahim’s father, Sultan Iskandar, became Malaysia’s eighth king.
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