Overview

• Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has been elected as Malaysia's next king and will be installed on January 31, 2024.
• Sultan Ibrahim is known for expressing his thoughts publically, recently criticizing the standards of low-cost housing in Johor, slow COVID-19 vaccination rates, and warned lawmakers against political maneuvers causing instability.
• The new king has demonstrated a good working relationship with the current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, representing a potentially strong partnership between the monarchy and the government.
• Analysts predict Sultan Ibrahim's close ties with Singapore and China, strengthened through good relations with their leaders and business investments, could positively impact Malaysia's international relations.
• In Malaysia's unique rotational monarchy, Sultan Ibrahim will serve a largely ceremonial role for five years, although recent political instability has led to increasing intervention from the monarchy in selecting political leadership.