Harley-Fan is new king of Malaysia
In Malaysia, a new king is chosen every five years. Now it's time again: Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is being crowned as the 17th king of the country. The 65-year-old is a billionaire, a motorbike enthusiast, and known for his social engagement.
In Malaysia, a billionaire known for his motorbike hobby has been crowned as the new king. The coronation ceremony of Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar took place at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. The 65-year-old wore a traditional mantle with gold motifs and royal headgear. He pledged to uphold the constitution and "maintain the religion of Islam and ensure peace in Malaysia." However, his reign has an expiration date: In Malaysia, the monarchy rotates every five years, and the previous nine kingdoms of Malaysia elect the new monarch for the country.
He had already taken his oath as the 17th king of the country in January, and now followed the traditional coronation ceremony. He hails from the southern province of Johor on the border with Singapore. Bloomberg estimates the fortune of him and his family to be at least 5.7 billion dollars (5.3 billion Euro). The 65-year-old is also known for riding his Harley-Davidson motorbike through the poorer regions of the country every year and distributing donations.
His predecessor was the ruler of the federal state of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah. Abdullah had a meteoric rise to power, which is quite unusual in the world of royalty. When his predecessor abdicated - a first in Malaysian history - Abdullah was not even a sultan yet. Then, his 88-year-old father Ahmad abdicated as the Sultan of Pahang, paving the way for his son to become the ruler of the entire Malaysia.
In recent years, the traditionally more representative role has become increasingly important due to political instability. The real power lies with the prime minister. The king oversees the appointment of politicians, functions as the religious head of the predominantly Muslim population, and is the supreme commander of the army.
Despite being the new king of Malaysia, Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar continues his annual tradition of riding his Harley-Davidson motorbike through the country's poorer regions, distributing donations as a billionaire philanthropist. In the world of Malaysian politics, the reign of the 17th king is not permanent, as the monarchy rotates every five years.
