Malaysia welcomed a motorcycle-riding billionaire sultan as its new king on Saturday, in a grand ceremony that serves as a stabilizing force during political turmoil.
Sultan Ibrahim, aged 65, was inaugurated as the country’s 17th monarch in a coronation ceremony at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, following his oath-taking ceremony in January.
As a constitutional monarchy, Malaysia has a unique system where the throne changes hands every five years between the rulers of nine Malaysian states, all of whom come from centuries-old Islamic royalty.
Although primarily ceremonial, the role of the king has become increasingly important in recent years.
Royal intervention was necessary to appoint prime ministers on three occasions after government collapses and a hung parliament following the scandal-ridden defeat of former premier Najib Razak in the 2018 elections.
In addition to overseeing key political appointments, the king also acts as the official head of Islam in the Muslim-majority country and the commander-in-chief of its armed forces.
Sultan Ibrahim and his family, who rule the southern Johor state neighboring Singapore, are estimated to be worth at least $5.7 billion by Bloomberg. Their business interests include land in Singapore and investments in industries like palm oil, real estate, and telecommunications.
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries such as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
In a traditional coat adorned with gold thread and a royal headdress, Sultan Ibrahim pledged to uphold the constitution, the religion of Islam, and ensure peace in Malaysia.
Anwar congratulated the new king and pledged loyalty to him.
Sultan Ibrahim has been vocal about Malaysian politics and corruption, as well as being perceived as a religious moderate. In 2017, he demanded an apology from a laundromat owner for alleged discrimination against non-Muslims.
Married with six children, Sultan Ibrahim has embarked on annual charity trips around Johor on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He also has personal business interests, including a stake in the $100 billion Forest City development project off the coast of Johor, led by Chinese investors.
The king, who is active on social media, has a large collection of luxury cars, sports cars, private jets, and plays polo. He is also an officer in the national armed forces, having undergone military training in the United States.
Sultan Ibrahim studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States, where he completed courses in “Southeast Asian Strategic Studies” and “International Law of the Sea,” as per the palace.
The last Johor sultan to hold the Malaysian crown was Sultan Ibrahim’s father, Sultan Iskandar, who was proclaimed the eighth king in 1984.
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