Malaysia’s ‘vocal’ new king to bring scrutiny to Anwar’s government amid clamour for political stability

The outspoken Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar takes the throne at a time the monarch faces heightened public expectations to broker political stability

While he’s likely to back Anwar’s corruption probes, the sultan’s push for infrastructure projects could place the government in a difficult position, experts say

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Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has enjoyed a reputation as a hands-on ruler. Photo: Facebook

Published: 6:00pm, 29 Jan 2024Updated: 6:23pm, 29 Jan 2024

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar will become Malaysia’s king later this week, with experts anticipating the royal institution will play a pivotal role in supporting the government, as a potentially explosive corruption investigation billows out across parts of the political and business elite.

The ruler of the southern state of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim begins his term as king on Wednesday at a time when the constitutional monarch faces heightened public expectations to broker political stability between Malaysia’s bickering politicians and take a firm stance on endemic corruption.

Ahead of his coronation for his five-year term in Malaysia’s unique monarchy – which is shared among the nine rulers of the Malay states – the outspoken Sultan Ibrahim made it clear he would brook little of the political chicanery which defined his predecessor’s rule.

“There are 222 of you in parliament. There are over 30 million [Malaysians] outside. I’m not with you, I’m with them,” the ruler said as a warning to the country’s lawmakers in an interview with Singapore’s The Straits Times newspaper published in December.

Political reality over the last five years or so has led to the expansion of the role of the monarch

Adib Zalkapli, analyst

The enduring rivalries of various political factions threaten to undercut the economic and social policy plans of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s year-old government, political watchers say, and the premier may benefit from the ballast only the top royal can give.

“Political reality over the last five years or so has led to the expansion of the role of the monarch,” said Adib Zalkapli, a Malaysia director with political risk consultancy BowerGroupAsia.