As of: January 31, 2024, 8:10 a.m
By: Sven Hauberg
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Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor (front right) was elected the next king of Malaysia in October.
Next to him: still-monarch Al-Sultan Abdullah.
© Mohd Rasfan/Pool/AFP
Malaysia's rulers take turns on the throne every five years.
Now a man who owns hundreds of luxury sleighs - and his own army - is moving into the royal palace.
There are probably only a few monarchs in the world who live in such a modern way as the King of Malaysia.
Just over ten years ago, the ruler of the East Asian state moved into the newly built royal palace in the northwest of the capital Kuala Lumpur, whose golden domes can be seen from afar.
King Mizan was the first tenant of the so-called National Palace, but had to hand over the keys to his successor after just a few weeks.
Because the monarch's term of office had expired - on time after five years, as stipulated by Malaysia's constitution.
Mizan was followed by three more kings (one abdicated after just over two years on the throne), and now, if all goes according to plan, palace resident number five is moving in.
Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor will be crowned the 17th King of Malaysia in a ceremony on Wednesday, succeeding Monarch Al-Sultan Abdullah.
The 65-year-old can adorn himself with the royal title of “Yang di-Pertuan Agong” for five years; he will then be head of 34 million people.
For the coronation ceremony, Ibrahim will wear the Muscat, a black robe decorated with gold embroidery, a dagger with a handle and sheath made of ivory, and a gold belt buckle set with eleven rubies.
A brocade headdress is placed on his head.
Malaysia's rotating monarchy dates back to 1957
Malaysia is the only country in the world with a rotating monarchy.
The unusual tradition dates back to 1957, when Malaysia gained independence from the colonial power Great Britain.
So that the rulers of the once independent Malay empires could retain at least part of their power in the newly created democracy, the office of “Agong” was introduced.
The king is elected by the nine royal regional rulers of the predominantly Muslim country.
One of them takes the throne every five years, according to an informally agreed order.
Today, however, the king's power is primarily of a representative nature.
Malaysia's monarch is a bit like the German Federal President: he appoints and dismisses ministers and signs laws that have previously been passed by parliament.
Sultan Ibrahim, the next king, was elected last October.
Since 2010, he has been the ruler of Johor, Malaysia's southernmost state, which borders Singapore.
On the future monarch's homepage you can read that Sultan Ibrahim trained as an officer in the USA, has a locomotive driver's license and a license to fly helicopters.
He also played polo professionally and other hobbies include “tennis, windsurfing, shooting, driving and skydiving”.
He also has his own army - and, according to press reports, a collection of 379 vehicles, including luxury cars from Ferrari, Mercedes, Bentley and Bugatti.
Malaysia's next king: "I will hunt down all corrupt people"
The father of five is not only interested in fast and expensive cars, but also in politics.
And that could become a problem, believes Syaza Shukri.
“Some people are looking forward to a king who speaks out more on political issues.
But there is also a lot of unease because the previous kings have taken on a more ceremonial role,” says the political scientist from the International Islamic University Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
“I suspect that he will express himself openly, because the monarch also has the right to express his opinion.” The future monarch's interest lies in economic development and the reduction of ethnic tensions and polarization in the country, said the political scientist.
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The sultan's idea to remove Malaysia's anti-corruption authority from the control of parliament and place it under the monarch's control is controversial.
Especially since Malaysia is currently in the middle of a huge corruption scandal.
The focus of the investigation is, among others, the two sons of Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled Malaysia as prime minister for almost a quarter of a century, as well as his long-time finance minister.
Already in prison is Najib Razak, another former prime minister who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for embezzling around $700 million.
Malaysia's future king is now promising to drain this swamp.
“My great-grandfather and I were great hunters.
When I go hunting, I make sure I bring back something good,” Sultan Ibrahim told the
Straits Times
, a Singapore newspaper, last year.
“But when I’m in Kuala Lumpur, it’s a concrete jungle, so what am I supposed to hunt?
I will hunt down all corrupt people.”