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| Sultan ibrahim Iskandar |
A New Era Begins:
In a historic moment for Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar ascended the throne, marking the beginning of a new era. The 17th and current Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia), Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, was born on 22 November 1958. He is the ruler of Johor state and succeeded Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang state.
Here are some more interesting facts about Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar:
- He is known for his outspokenness and has stated that he is not keen on becoming a "puppet king".
- He has a close relationship with Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
- He is seen as a religious moderate.
- He owns a fleet of jets, including a gold-and-blue Boeing 737.
- He has a huge collection of cars and motorcycles².
- He is estimated to be worth at least $5.7 billion, including land in Singapore and investments in various companies including palm oil, real estate, and telecommunications.
- He belongs to the powerful Johor royal family, the head of which commands a small private army.
- He is known for his annual trips around Johor on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, handing out charity to the poor.
What is the Role of the King in Malaysia?
While the position of the king in Malaysia is largely ceremonial, it has in recent years featured heavily in the country’s fractured political landscape. The king wields rarely used discretionary powers to quell political instability. He also serves as the official head of Islam in the Muslim-majority country and commander-in-chief of its armed forces.
Back Ground Story of Monarchy in Malaysia:
The monarchy system in Malaysia is unique and is one of the world's few elective monarchies. Here's a brief history and overview of Malaysia's monarchy:
Establishment:
The present form of constitutional monarchy in Malaysia dates from 1957, when the Federation of Malaya gained independence from the United Kingdom. The constitutional monarchy was established after Malaysia's independence from Britain.
Structure:
Nine of the states of Malaysia are constitutionally headed by traditional Malay rulers, collectively referred to as the Malay states. These rulers are mostly known as the Sultan. Seven of these states are hereditary monarchies based on agnatic primogeniture: Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Perlis, Pahang, Selangor, and Terengganu. In Perak, the throne rotates among three branches of the royal family loosely based on agnatic seniority. One state, Negeri Sembilan, is an elective monarchy; the ruler is elected from male members of the royal family by hereditary chiefs.
The King:
Every five years or when a vacancy occurs, the rulers convene as the Conference of Rulers (Malay: Majlis Raja-Raja) to elect among themselves the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the federal constitutional monarch and head of state of Malaysia. As the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected among the rulers, Malaysia, as a whole, is also an elective monarchy.
Roles:
Each of the nine rulers serves as the head of state of his own state, as well as the head of the religion of Islam in his state. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the federal head of state. His symbolic roles include being the Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces and carrying out diplomatic functions such as receiving foreign diplomats and representing Malaysia on state visits.
The powers of the monarchs have been restricted over time, although there is debate about the precise limits of their powers. The rulers do not participate in the actual governance in their states; instead, each of them is bound by convention to act on the advice of the head of government of his state, known as Menteri Besar.
The Menteri Besar, colloquially referred to as MB, is the head of government of each of the nine states with monarchs. For the four states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used.
The Menteri Besar is usually the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party of the state legislative assembly. The ruler of each state or the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the state government. The ruler or governor appoints and swears in the Menteri Besar, whose executive council is collectively responsible to the assembly¹.
The Menteri Besar does not participate in the actual governance in their states; instead, each of them is bound by convention to act on the advice of the head of government of his state. However, the ruler of each state has discretionary powers in appointing the Menteri Besar who commands a majority in the state legislative assembly, and refusing a dissolution of the state assembly when requested by the Menteri Besar.
The terms of Menteris Besar can last for the length of the assembly's life—a maximum of five years. There are no limits to the number of terms that the Menteri Besar can serve. The Menteri Besar usually comes from the party (or coalition) which commands a majority in the state assembly.
Conclusion:
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s ascension to the throne marks a new chapter in Malaysia’s history. His wealth, influence, and outspoken nature set him apart from his predecessors. As Malaysia navigates its way through political instability, the role of the king has become increasingly important. It remains to be seen how Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar will use his position to influence the future of Malaysia.
Source:
- Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Iskandar_of_Johor.
- Malaysia's billionaire Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar sworn in as the new king. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/malaysia-s-new-king-is-an-outspoken-state-sultan-who-plans-to-be-a-hands-on-monarch/ar-BB1hwiS8.
- Malaysia crowns its new billionaire king: Tycoon Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, who owns 300 luxury cars including one 'gifted by Adolf Hitler', a fleet of private jets and his .... https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/malaysia-crowns-its-new-billionaire-king-tycoon-sultan-ibrahim-iskandar-65-who-owns-300-luxury-cars-including-one-gifted-by-adolf-hitler-a-fleet-of-private-jets-and-his-own-army-becomes-countrys-new-monarch/ar-BB1hxHQ6.
- Malaysia swears in motorbike-riding billionaire as new king under .... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/31/new-king-of-malaysia-crowned-sultan-ibrahim-sultan-iskandar-.
- Ibrahim Iskandar, Malaysia's new king owns Boeing 737, private army & $4 billion land in Singapore. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/ibrahim-iskandar-malaysia-s-new-king-owns-boeing-737-private-army-4-billion-land-in-singapore/ar-BB1hy5Sx.
- Ibrahim Iskandar I - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Iskandar_I.
- Heads of state governments of Malaysia - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heads_of_state_governments_of_Malaysia.
- Menteri Besar of Johor - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menteri_Besar_of_Johor.
- Monarchies of Malaysia - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchies_of_Malaysia.
- Heads of state governments of Malaysia - Wikiwand. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Heads_of_state_governments_of_Malaysia.
- State governments of Malaysia - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_governments_of_Malaysia.