KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s royal families have chosen Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, an influential and outspoken figure from the southern state of Johor, to become the country’s next king.
While the king’s role in Malaysia is largely ceremonial, recent years have seen an increase in the monarchy’s influence due to persistent political instability, prompting the incumbent king to exercise rarely used discretionary powers.
In Malaysia’s unique system, the heads of the nine royal families take turns to serve as monarch for a five-year term in this Southeast Asian parliamentary democracy, with the monarch serving as the head of state. Sultan Ibrahim is set to assume the position from the current King Al-Sultan Abdullah on January 31, 2024, as announced by the keeper of the rulers’ seal.
Differing from other traditional Malaysian rulers, Sultan Ibrahim is known for his outspokenness in political matters and his amicable relationship with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Beyond his royal duties, the sultan has diverse business interests, ranging from real estate to mining, and is renowned for his extensive collection of luxury cars and motorcycles.
King Al-Sultan’s active role in Malaysian politics
King Al-Sultan played a notably active role in Malaysian politics, having a hand in the selection of the country’s last three prime ministers. The federal constitution assigns the monarch only limited discretionary powers, primarily requiring the king to act upon the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. However, the constitution permits the king to appoint a prime minister with parliamentary majority support, a power that was rarely exercised until 2020, as prime ministers were typically chosen through elections.
These extraordinary powers were invoked by King Al-Sultan during a period of political instability, triggered by the defeat of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which had governed Malaysia uninterrupted since independence until 2018. Additionally, the king possesses the authority to grant pardons to convicted individuals.
In 2018, Al-Sultan’s predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V, granted a pardon to Anwar, who was then imprisoned on charges of sodomy and corruption that he claimed were politically motivated.
Recently, former prime minister Najib Razak, incarcerated last year for a graft conviction related to the 1MDB state fund scandal, has applied for a royal pardon, a request that may be reviewed by the new king.
