Sultan Ibrahim from Malaysia's southern state of Johor was named the country's next king Friday under the country's rotational monarchy system, with the current Sultan Abdullah and the ruler of the central Pahang state completing his five-year term in January.
Sultan Ibrahim was selected by the Council of Rulers, made up of the nine state rulers, said Syed Danial, keeper of the Rulers' Seal, in a statement, adding that the sultan will begin his reign on Jan. 31.
The dominantly Malay-Muslim country's king plays a largely ceremonial role as the head of state. But Sultan Abdullah has become increasingly involved in politics amid an unstable political environment following the 2018 general election that ended the six-decade rule of the National Front coalition.
After the November 2022 general election, which resulted in a hung parliament, Sultan Abdullah mediated leaders of political parties and contributed to the formation of the administration of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim from the multiethnic Alliance of Hope party.
Sultan Ibrahim received military training, including in the United States. He is known for being outspoken and having a wide range of business interests.
Malaysia's constitutional monarchy gives each hereditary ruler from the nine states a chance to be king for five years in rotation. This system was established just before Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957.
==Kyodo
