Crowning of Billionaire Ibrahim Iskandar as the New King of Malaysia

Today, Saturday, the coronation ceremony for the Malaysian billionaire Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar took place, who pledged to rule justly during his five-year term, according to a unique rotating monarchy system. The 65-year-old Sultan Ibrahim took the oath of office last January, and his coronation on Saturday at the National Palace officially marked his role as the seventeenth king of Malaysia in a celebration characterized by Malay culture and grandeur. Sultan Ibrahim succeeds Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who returns to govern his home state of Pahang after completing his five-year reign. Nine rulers from Malaysia's ethnic Malay states take turns on the throne for a five-year term under the country's rotating monarchy system, which began when Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. Malaysia consists of 13 states, out of which only 9 states contain royal families, some of which trace their roots back to Malay kingdoms that were independent states until their unification under British rule.