Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The final time a Sultan from the state of Johor was on the throne of Malaysia within the late Nineteen 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 a number of the most outstanding 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 extremely possible that in some unspecified time in the future, he might be known as upon to adjudicate as to which aspect would have a extra stable command of parliament,” Malaysian political analyst Oh Ei Solar advised Al Jazeera. “It might occur any time.”
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, 65, might be put in because the seventeenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, which might be broadcast stay on state tv.
He’ll serve for 5 years as a part of Malaysia’s distinctive system of rotational monarchy below 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 top 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 outstanding 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 clean 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 may be 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 courtroom instances over the scandal.
Some say Najib’s launch would assist deal with a number of 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 spiritual and nationalist events.
However analysts say such a transfer dangers alienating those that need to see reform, and undermining Malaysia’s worldwide repute.
Minister within the Prime Minister’s Division (Federal Territories) Zaliha Mustafa mentioned 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.
“Anticipate an official assertion by (the) Pardons Board,” she mentioned, in response to 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 at all times Muslim.
Sultan Ibrahim has beforehand spoken out in opposition to the “Arabisation” of Malay tradition and careworn the necessity for moderation in a rustic the place there are massive populations of ethnic Chinese language and Indians, most of whom usually are not Muslim.
Impartial analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani says as soon as he strikes into the palace, the brand new king “won’t be shy” about providing his views to Anwar if he’s sad.
The 2 males seem to have an in depth working relationship and share comparable considerations, notably over the necessity to deal with corruption and enhance the economic system and funding.
This month, Singapore and Malaysia reached a preliminary settlement to determine a Singapore-Johor particular financial zone and enhance connectivity throughout the border, one of many busiest on this planet.
“Not like different state rulers who’ve been principally ceremonial, the sultan has at all times had a hands-on method to state issues and a working relationship with the chief minister,” Asrul Hadi mentioned referring to the chief of the Johor state authorities. “He’s anticipating the same relationship with the federal authorities however there’ll possible be pushback from the administration, particularly on coverage issues.”
Sultan Ibrahim has already triggered controversy in an interview with Singapore’s Straits Instances newspaper that was printed in December.
Below a narrative headlined “No ‘puppet king’”, the Sultan mentioned there was a have to deal with corruption, for “checks and balances” on the federal government and to regulate the “machinations of self-serving politicians” in a swipe on the political manoeuvring that has rocked the nation over the previous few years.
“He won’t need to be caught within the video games which the politicians are enjoying,” mentioned 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 needs political stability so {that a} robust financial agenda may be put in place and applied.”
Married with six kids, Sultan Ibrahim is certainly one of Malaysia’s wealthiest males with pursuits in web providers to property, together with a stake within the troubled China-backed Forest Metropolis challenge.
Recognized for his annual highway journey round Johor to fulfill the state’s individuals – carried out one yr 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 a whole lot 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 individuals round Johor and a movie on the recruitment course of for the Royal Johor Army Power, the state’s personal 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 put up confirmed the 39-year-old prince, wearing full navy uniform, arriving on the palace in a black Rolls Royce and taking the oath.
On Wednesday, consideration will flip to Sultan Ibrahim.
Police have mentioned they count on as many as 30,000 individuals to line the streets of Johor Bahru, the state capital, to bid farewell to the sultan as he makes his method to the airport for his flight to Kuala Lumpur.
Effectively-wishers are additionally anticipated within the capital because the set up ceremony is broadcast stay on tv.