The former Sultan of Johor is the seventeenth king of Malaysia.
A new king has been installed in Malaysia, which has been a monarchy since 1957. For the next five years, it will be 65-year-old Ibrahim’s turn to serve as the country’s monarch. The former Sultan of Johor is the seventeenth king of Malaysia, succeeding former King Abdullah.
9 sub-monarchies
In Malaysia things are a bit different than in a regular monarchy. The country consists of nine sub-monarchies, each with a separate sultan. Every five years, the nine sultans jointly elect a new head of state from their own group, from which the king is then chosen. This process is usually very smooth, as there is a set order to determine who is next in line.
The sultan who is subsequently elected king cannot be sultan of his own partial monarchy during the period of his kingship. For this reason, a regent is appointed in place of this sultan, who takes over the work of the sultan in the partial monarchy.
Daughter Aminah
Ibrahim is the former sultan of the state of Johor. A few years ago, his family was in the Dutch news, as his only daughter, Aminah, married Dutchman Dennis Verbaas. Dennis, from Lisse, worked as a photo model in various Asian countries before he met Ibrahim’s daughter. The couple are now parents of a daughter and a son.
Active monarch
Ibrahim was installed at the Royal Palace in Kuala Lumpur on January 31. He took the oath among the sultans of the remaining sub-monarchies. These sultans later have a chance to become king again.
Shortly before this solemn moment, Ibraham told the Singaporean newspaper The Strait Times that he intends to be an ‘active monarch’. It is no surprise that Ibrahim has become the seventeenth king of the country, as it was already announced last October that he would be the heir apparent.
Source: Blue Blood | Image: NL Image
