Under a unique rotating monarchy system, billionaire sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who governs Malaysia’s Johor state, was sworn in as the nation’s new king on Wednesday, January 31. The $5.7 billion empire that the 65-year-old monarch brings with him to the throne includes hundreds of cars, a fleet of private jets, and even his own private army.
Sultan Ibrahim is among the wealthiest people in the nation; Bloomberg estimates that the readily available assessments of his family’s assets are at least $5.7 billion. It is anticipated that the figure will be higher.
Interestingly, he will be Malaysia’s first king from the state of Johor since the late 1980s. Even though Sultan Ibrahim is the head of one Malaysian state, his dominion reaches well beyond its borders thanks to his numerous business endeavors in industries including mining, real estate, telecommunications, and even palm oil.
The queen possesses more than 300 high-end vehicles, one of which was purportedly given to her by Adolf Hitler. Sultan Ibrahim is the only monarch with a private army and owning a fleet of private aircraft, including a Boeing 737 in gold and blue.
After gaining independence from Britain in 1957, the state was required to join modern-day Malaysia, provided it maintained the private army.
Sultan Ibrahim ascended to the throne after taking the oath of office at the palace. He signed the proclamation’s instrument before other royal families, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and other legislators in Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital.
The 17th king of Malaysia will be crowned separately at a later date. Under Malaysia’s unique constitutional monarchy, in which nine states’ hereditary royals alternate as the country’s king, the head of the southernmost state will start his five-year term.
No other country in the world has a rotational monarchy structure like Malaysia. Meanwhile, only nine of Malaysia’s thirteen states are home to royal families.
The monarch is revered as the guardian of Islam and Malay customs, even if his function in Malaysia is primarily ceremonial, and he serves as the nominal head of state and military.
In an interview with the Singapore Straits Times, Sultan Ibrahim stated that he would not waste his five years as king as a “puppet king,” but would instead concentrate on combating corruption and strengthening national unity.
Notably, the 65-year-old ascends to the throne when Malaysia is undergoing a crackdown on corruption that has affected some of the nation’s most well-known politicians.
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