2024-01-31T04:32:37+00:00
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/ Malaysia has installed Sultan Ibrahim of the southern state of Johor as the country’s new king after he took the oath of office at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The king’s role is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, but his influence has grown in recent years as he wields discretionary, rarely used, powers to curb political instability.
Sultan Ibrahim, 65, succeeds Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who returns to lead his home state of Pahang after completing his five-year reign.
Malaysia practices a unique form of monarchy, where the country’s nine sultans take turns as king every 5 years.
While the king is seen as above politics, Sultan Ibrahim is known for his outspokenness and strong personality, and has often weighed in on political issues in Malaysia.
Sultan Ibrahim, known for his vast collection of luxury cars and motorcycles, has wide-ranging business interests, from real estate to mining, including a stake in Forest City, a $100 billion real estate project off Johor state.