Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has officially ascended to the throne as Malaysia’s 17th king, replacing Sultan Abudullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah, who ran his term from 2019 to 30 January 2024.
He was elected back in 27 October 2023 and commenced his reign on 31 January 2024.
If you’re unfamiliar with Malaysia’s monarchy system or Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, read on to discover some fascinating facts about him.
A Royal Heritage
Sultan Ibrahim was born on 22 November 1958 in Johor, Malaysia. He is the third child and eldest son of his family, positioning him as the next in line to the throne after his father, Sultan Iskandar.
Beyond his royal lineage, he is renowned as one of Malaysia’s wealthiest individuals, a detail we’ll delve into shortly.
Malay-British Descent
Sultan Ibrahim is of Malay-British descent. His father, Sultan Iskandar, met his mother, Josephine Ruby Trevorrow, while studying in Britain.
They had four children, including Sultan Ibrahim and the former queen of Malaysia, Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah (who was the spouse of the previous king, Abdullah).
First Johor Sultan in 40 Years
Sultan Ibrahim is the first Johor Sultan in four decades. The last time a Johor Sultan had been proclaimed as king was when Sultan Ibrahim’s father took the title in 1984.
So why did it take this long for Sultan Ibrahim to take the throne?
In case you didn’t know, Malaysia operates with a rotating monarchy system.
To put it simply, Malaysia has nine royal families from 9 out of 13 states in Malaysia, including Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu.
The head of each family will take turns serving as king for five years.
Personal Life
Sultan Ibrahim is married to Raja Zarith Sofiah, a member of Perak’s royal family. His wife is known as an art enthusiast and a writer, having authored four children’s books.
Together, they have six children, including one daughter and five sons. Their fourth son, Tunku Abdul Jalil, tragically struggled with liver cancer and passed on in 2015.
Military Excellence
Sultan Ibrahim boasts a commendable military background. He was selected as a platoon commander during his training at the Army Combat Training Centre (Pulada).
He even participated in various training programmes in the United States, including states like Georgia and North Carolina.
He attended the American Special Forces Green Beret and Pathfinder course. Notably, during this course, he completed 19 parachute jumps, half of which occurred at night. He earned the Green Beret and wings and is even a member of the US Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) team.
Billionaire in Malaysia
According to Bloomberg’s estimates, the assets of the Johor royal family are valued at an astonishing $5.7 billion.
Sultan Ibrahim stands out as the only king who possesses a private army and is involved in numerous business ventures, including the multibillion-dollar Forest City project in Johor, developed in collaboration with Chinese property developer Country Garden.
His reason behind his business involvements was because he “has to earn a living like everyone else” as he cannot rely on his monthly allowance of RM27,000.
That is S$7,653.84 by the way…
Massive Car and Motorbike Collection
Sultan Ibrahim is an avid collector of cars and motorcycles, amassing a collection of over 300 cars and Harley Davidson bikes. His assortment includes unique vehicles like a vintage three-wheeler car, a wooden Flintstones-inspired car, and a massive super-liner sleeper truck.
His love for cars extends to collecting distinctive license plates, such as a F1 plate he acquired for RM$1.2 million in the previous year.
His Harley-Davidson bike collection was even featured in 2018 at the Malaysia Bike Week exhibition.
A Sports Enthusiast
According to his coronation website, the Sultan has a passion for sports, engaging in various activities such as tennis, sailing, shooting, racing, and parachuting. He had even participated in international championships.
His favourite sport, however, is polo.
An Outspoken Leader
Sultan Ibrahim is known for his outspoken nature and progressive views.
He has been vocal against racial discrimination and took a stand against a laundrette displaying a “Muslim only” sign in 2017, emphasizing that Johor belongs to all races and religions.
In an interview with the Straits Times, Sultan Ibrahim expressed his determination not to be a mere “puppet king.” He aims to focus on combating corruption and fostering unity within the country.
Additionally, he expressed that his interest in reviving the high-speed rail (HSR) link project. The project was initially scrapped due to its high cost.
However, Sultan Ibrahim proposed that the project could be funded through a private finance initiative where the government pays the contractor to operate the line on a 30-year lease before taking ownership of the HSR.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that the project becomes a reality.