Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Traditional pageantry and cannon firing marked Saturday’s coronation of Malaysia’s billionaire King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who vowed to rule fairly during his five-year term under a single rotating monarchical system.
Sultan Ibrahim, 65, took the oath of office on January 31. Saturday’s coronation at the national palace formalized his role as Malaysia’s 17th king in a ceremony steeped in Malay culture and pageantry.
Nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns as kings of Malaysia for five-year terms under the country’s rotating monarchy, which began when Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. Malaysia has 13 states, but only nine have royal families, some of which have their roots in centuries. -Former Malay kingdoms that were independent states until they were united by the British.
Dressed in traditional black and gold ceremonial dress and headdresses, Sultan Ibrahim and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah were greeted with a military salute before ascending the throne. The heads of the other royal families, the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah and the King of Bahrain Hamad Isa al Khalifa were seated on a stage next to the throne.
At the beginning of the trial, a copy of the Quran was presented to the sultan, who kissed it. The monarch received a gold dagger, a symbol of power. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim then pledged the loyalty of his government and said the royal institution was a pillar of strength for the nation. He then proclaimed Sultan Ibrahim new king of Malaysia.
“God willing, I will fulfill my duties faithfully and honestly and rule justly,” Sultan Ibrahim said in his coronation speech. He also urged the Anwar government to intensify efforts to improve the living standards of the people and boost the development of the nation. After the sultan took the oath, the guests in the room chanted “Long live the king” three times.
Sultan Ibrahim, from the southern state of Johor, bordering Singapore, is one of the country’s richest men, with a business empire ranging from telecommunications to real estate. He is known for his collection of luxury cars and motorcycles, and is the only state ruler with a small private army, a concession granted to his state when it joined present-day Malaysia. The sultan speaks openly about Malaysian politics and has spoken out about corruption and racial discrimination.
Known as the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, or He Who is Made Lord, the king plays a largely ceremonial role, with administrative power vested in the prime minister and Parliament. The monarch is the nominal head of the government and the armed forces and is considered the protector of Islam and Malay tradition.
All laws, Cabinet appointments and the dissolution of Parliament for general elections require your formal consent. The king has the power to proclaim an emergency and pardon criminals.
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