Inauguration of Sultan Ibrahim as the New King of Malaysia

Malaysia has installed Sultan Ibrahim of the southern state of Johor as the new king of the country after he took the oath at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. The role of the king is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, but his influence has grown in recent years as he has begun to exercise discretionary powers, rarely used, to curb political instability. Sultan Ibrahim (65 years old) succeeds Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who returns to lead his home state of Pahang after completing his five-year term. Malaysia practices a unique form of monarchy, where the country’s nine sultans take turns serving as king every five years. While the king is seen as aloof from politics, Sultan Ibrahim is known for his frankness and strong personality, frequently voicing his opinions on political issues in Malaysia. Sultan Ibrahim, renowned for his large collection of luxury cars and motorcycles, has extensive business interests ranging from real estate to mining, including a stake in Forest City, a $100 billion real estate project off the coast of Johor.