Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The final time a Sultan from the state of Johor was on the throne of Malaysia within the late Eighties, the nation was embroiled in a constitutional disaster as then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sought to clip the wings of the judiciary.
Now, as the present Johor Sultan turns into king, Malaysia is dealing with a corruption crackdown which has ensnared among the most distinguished political personalities of the Mahathir period, hypothesis of a pardon for disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak and continued political manoeuvring as a part of a realignment that started in 2018.
“It is very likely that at some point, he will be called upon to adjudicate as to which side would have a more solid command of parliament,” Malaysian political analyst Oh Ei Solar informed Al Jazeera. “It could happen any time.”
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, 65, will probably be put in because the seventeenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, which will probably be broadcast stay on state tv.
He’ll serve for 5 years as a part of Malaysia’s distinctive system of rotational monarchy beneath which the nation’s 9 hereditary rulers take turns to be the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, or He Who’s Made Lord.
Whereas the king is a constitutional monarch who acts as the pinnacle of state and commander of the armed forces, the upheaval that adopted the historic election in 2018 – when the once-dominant United Malays Nationwide Organisation (UMNO) was defeated for the primary time since independence – has seen the monarch enjoying a extra distinguished function within the nation’s politics.
On the time of that defeat, King Muhammad V from the northeastern state of Kelantan, was on the throne, and helped guarantee a easy switch of energy.
When the then-49-year-old selected to resign, his successor, King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah from the central state of Pahang, used the monarch’s discretionary powers to call the nation’s prime ministers in 2020 and 2021, and after the election in 2022 when no single celebration received a parliamentary majority.
He additionally agreed to then-Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s request for a state of emergency, which suspended parliament in January 2021 because the COVID-19 pandemic raged.
As Sultan Ibrahim is put in, Malaysia is in a interval of relative calm, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the head of a so-called “unity” authorities that features his one-time rivals in UMNO in addition to representatives from the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Nonetheless, some politicians proceed to jockey for energy amid deep cleavages in Malaysian society, whereas a corruption crackdown has ensnared Daim Zainuddin, the as soon as highly effective right-hand man to Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister.
There’s nervousness too about disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak who is sort of 18 months right into a 12-year sentence for corruption in relation to the multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB.
Hypothesis has grown that Najib, who has utilized for a full pardon, could be launched regardless of a number of ongoing court docket instances over the scandal.
Some say Najib’s launch would assist tackle among the nation’s political divisions as a result of he stays widespread amongst some ethnic Malays, who make up greater than half the inhabitants and have more and more voted for conservative non secular and nationalist events.
However analysts say such a transfer dangers alienating those that wish to see reform, and undermining Malaysia’s worldwide status.
Minister within the Prime Minister’s Division (Federal Territories) Zaliha Mustafa stated the Pardons Board met on the palace on Monday within the final official engagement for the outgoing king. She didn’t elaborate on what was mentioned.
“Wait for an official statement by (the) Pardons Board,” she stated, in line with the Star, a Malaysian newspaper.
‘Not shy’
Malaysia’s royal homes stay potent symbols of id for a lot of Malays and Sultans are the guardians of Islam in their very own states. Malays in Malaysia are all the time Muslim.
Sultan Ibrahim has beforehand spoken out towards the “Arabisation” of Malay tradition and pressured the necessity for moderation in a rustic the place there are giant populations of ethnic Chinese language and Indians, most of whom aren’t Muslim.
Unbiased analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani says as soon as he strikes into the palace, the brand new king “will not be shy” about providing his views to Anwar if he’s sad.
The 2 males seem to have a detailed working relationship and share comparable issues, notably over the necessity to sort out corruption and increase the financial system and funding.
This month, Singapore and Malaysia reached a preliminary settlement to ascertain a Singapore-Johor particular financial zone and enhance connectivity throughout the border, one of many busiest on the earth.
“Unlike other state rulers who have been mostly ceremonial, the sultan has always had a hands-on approach to state matters and a working relationship with the chief minister,” Asrul Hadi stated referring to the chief of the Johor state authorities. “He is expecting a similar relationship with the federal government but there will likely be pushback from the administration, especially on policy matters.”
Sultan Ibrahim has already triggered controversy in an interview with Singapore’s Straits Occasions newspaper that was printed in December.
Underneath a narrative headlined “No ‘puppet king’”, the Sultan stated there was a have to sort out corruption, for “checks and balances” on the federal government and to manage the “machinations of self-serving politicians” in a swipe on the political manoeuvring that has rocked the nation over the previous few years.
“He will not want to be caught in the games which the politicians are playing,” stated Ong Kian Ming, the director of the philosophy, politics and economics programme at Taylor’s College in Kuala Lumpur in addition to a former member of parliament and deputy commerce minister. “He wants political stability so that a strong economic agenda can be put in place and implemented.”
Married with six kids, Sultan Ibrahim is certainly one of Malaysia’s wealthiest males with pursuits in web companies to property, together with a stake within the troubled China-backed Forest Metropolis undertaking.
Identified for his annual street journey round Johor to fulfill the state’s folks – carried out one 12 months from a custom-made Mack truck – he has a ardour for quick automobiles and plane.
Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, in the meantime, his eldest son, has received plaudits for the state’s dominance of nationwide soccer with Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) successful the tremendous league for 10 years in a row.
The household has additionally proven media savvy, giving an perception into royal life with tons of of 1000’s of followers on social media platforms together with Fb, Instagram and YouTube.
Posts have included movies of the sultan joking as he meets folks round Johor and a movie on the recruitment course of for the Royal Johor Army Pressure, the state’s non-public military.
Earlier this week, they shared images and movies from the ceremony the place Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, popularly often known as TMJ (the Malay acronym for Tunku Makhota Johor), was made regent forward of his father’s departure for Kuala Lumpur.
The publish confirmed the 39-year-old prince, wearing full army uniform, arriving on the palace in a black Rolls Royce and taking the oath.
On Wednesday, consideration will flip to Sultan Ibrahim.
Police have stated they count on as many as 30,000 folks to line the streets of Johor Bahru, the state capital, to bid farewell to the sultan as he makes his technique to the airport for his flight to Kuala Lumpur.
Properly-wishers are additionally anticipated within the capital because the set up ceremony is broadcast stay on tv.