KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - In a unique ceremony witnessed by his fellow royal families, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Cabinet members, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Malaysia's Johor state took his oath of office and was officially sworn in as the nation's new king on Wednesday. The billionaire sultan, who is 65 years old, boasts an extensive business empire that spans various industries such as real estate, telecommunications, and power plants.
Under Malaysia's rotating monarchy system, nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns serving as king for five-year terms. This system, the only one of its kind in the world, has been in place since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. With 13 states in Malaysia, only nine have royal families, some of whom can trace their roots back to centuries-old Malay kingdoms that were independent states before being united by the British.
