His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, shaking hands with the public at the open house at Istana Besar here.
JOHOR Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has always had a soft spot for the welfare of his subjects, especially flood victims.
Earlier this year, during a flood in Kota Tinggi, Sultan Ibrahim set aside time from his busy schedule as the King of Malaysia to personally visit two flood relief centres, offering comfort and support to the victims.
Meanwhile, at the height of the devastating floods in November last year, which affected at least seven states and tens of thousands of victims, Sultan Ibrahim offered prayers for the victims to be granted protection, strength and patience.
Sultan Ibrahim also instructed the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to ensure that facilities at temporary flood relief centres are well maintained and that assistance reaches the victims promptly.
The King also urged the public to remain vigilant, take preventive measures amid unpredictable weather conditions and stay alert for instructions from the authorities.
Sultan Ibrahim has consistently directed his Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation to provide aid to flood victims during the annual flood season.
Sultan Ibrahim holding an audience with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at his palace in Pasir Pelangi regarding current affairs,
Over the years, the foundation has provided more than RM200mil in aid to the people, including thousands of tents ahead of anticipated floods in Johor and other states.
Sultan Ibrahim and Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah have always paid close attention to the welfare of the people and provided assistance to countless Johoreans facing hardships during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sultan Ibrahim is known as one of the few leaders who never shies away from speaking his mind, especially on matters concerning the welfare of his subjects.
Even before his installation as the country’s 17th King on Jan 31 last year, Sultan Ibrahim had been making trips abroad to “strengthen and build bridges of friendship” with world leaders.
To date, the Ruler has met many leaders from China, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and the Middle East.
One of his major state visits was to China, where Sultan Ibrahim met with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in September last year.
Sultan Ibrahim also shares a close bond with Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto, whom His Majesty has known for more than four decades.
Earlier this year, Sultan Ibrahim bestowed the Darjah Kerabat Johor Yang Amat Dihormati I to Prabowo during his official visit to Malaysia.
Sultan Ibrahim with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the opening of the first meeting of the fourth session of the 15th Parliament at the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur in February.
Sultan Ibrahim is also friendly with leaders from neighbouring Singapore and has met with the republic’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Since ascending the Johor throne in 2010, Sultan Ibrahim has never hesitated to voice his opinions or express his displeasure on various issues, including reprimanding politicians who sow distrust and disunity among the people.
In 2017, Sultan Ibrahim ordered a controversial launderette in Muar to immediately stop its discriminatory practice of allowing only Muslims to use its facilities, or risk being shut down by the Ruler himself.
The Johor Ruler also criticised a former Cabinet minister for giving a ceramah at a mosque, stressing that political elements were barred at all mosques in the state.
In 2023, following allegations that only Muslim students from an all-girls school were invited to a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia workshop at a hotel in Johor Baru, Sultan Ibrahim decreed that no one should be excluded from any public programme based on race or religion.
The Ruler has also been active on his official Facebook page, which currently has over 1.1 million followers, sharing his thoughts and comments on various matters.
Social media has also been Sultan Ibrahim’s preferred communication platform on several occasions to express his displeasure over cleanliness and environmental matters – issues close to His Majesty’s heart.
Sultan Ibrahim meeting Prabowo during the latter’s official visit to Malaysia in January.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sultan Ibrahim appealed to his subjects to remain calm, adhere to the advice given and follow the standard operating procedures set by the Health Ministry.
Sultan Ibrahim also called upon the people to band together to curb the spread of the virus and to stop the spread of fake news, and directed teachers to get vaccinated to prevent spreading the virus to their students.
The Ruler is also a firm believer in Bangsa Johor, a concept aimed at fostering greater unity among the people of the state.
Sultan Ibrahim emphasises racial unity and seeks representation from Malay, Chinese and Indian NGOs in his Kembara Mahkota Johor committee to provide feedback and input on the annual expedition.
Sultan Ibrahim celebrating his birthday with Raja Zarith Sofiah, his children and grandchildren last year. — Photos taken from Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page
Despite His Majesty’s sternness, Sultan Ibrahim is also known as a compassionate Ruler who is beloved and respected by his subjects.
Those who have met Sultan Ibrahim describe His Majesty as a warm-hearted Ruler with an amiable personality and a good sense of humour.
The Ruler’s gentle and compassionate side is often revealed through His Majesty’s reactions when listening to stories of pain and suffering from his people, becoming visibly moved and teary-eyed.
On Oct 25, 2016, following a fire at Sultanah Aminah Hospital that claimed the lives of six patients, the Ruler once again showed his care for the people by instructing the hospital administration to use the royal ward to temporarily accommodate patients displaced by the tragedy.
Three years later, the Johor royal family demonstrated their concern during the Sungai Kim Kim chemical pollution crisis in Pasir Gudang.
They made at least three visits to victims at Sultan Ismail Hospital and the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium, where medical units had been set up.
Sultan Ibrahim enjoying a horse ride with Johor Regent Tunku Ismail at Istana Pasir Pelangi, Johor Baru, in September last year.
Sultan Ibrahim, who comes from a lineage of strong-willed, savvy and independent Rulers, is passionate about transforming Johor into a modern and progressive state. The Sultan’s vision is to transform the state into Malaysia’s next economic powerhouse after the Klang Valley.
Sultan Ibrahim was crowned the fifth Ruler of modern Johor in March 2015, marking a historical moment as the last coronation in the state was held for his late grandfather, Almarhum Sultan Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim, in February 1960.
A savvy investor with interests in a variety of local and foreign businesses, the Ruler is also an avid traveller, much like his ancestors who embarked on various voyages.
The Sultan regularly takes top Johor state officials and heads of government-linked companies along on these business and trade trips abroad to attract more investments to the state.
One of his passions is collecting both classic and modern cars and motorcycles, all of which are housed in garages within the palace grounds.
Sultan Ibrahim is also proud of his latest palace in Mersing, better known as Istana Flintstones.
Located on a 24ha site overlooking the sea and featuring a nine-storey lighthouse, this palace is now a popular tourist attraction in Mersing.
The Flintstones was an American animated series set against a romanticised Stone Age backdrop and gained immense popularity during its run from the early to mid-1960s.
The Ruler values his connection with his subjects and takes great pride in the Kembara Mahkota Johor programme, which began in 2001. However, the event has been on hold since 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Ruler mingling with people during breakfast at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur last October.
Led by the Ruler, this vehicle expedition fosters closer ties between Johor’s royal family and the people through various programmes held at each stop along the journey.
Sultan Ibrahim’s passion for sports is also well known. In his youth, he excelled at polo, competing not only locally but also in tournaments across Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines.
The Ruler earned the distinction of being the best polo player in Asia during the polo world qualifications in the 1990s.
In addition, Sultan Ibrahim enjoys parasailing, boating (jet skiing), parachuting, shooting and driving sports cars. He once emerged as the champion in a falling plate shooting event organised by the army at the Malaysian Army Combat Training Centre (Pulada) in Johor.
Sultan Ibrahim, who is the third of 10 children and the eldest son, was born at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru on Nov 22, 1958.
His Majesty received his formal education at Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman (1) before studying at Trinity Grammar School in Australia. Later, Sultan Ibrahim travelled to the United States to pursue his studies in law and diplomacy.
The Ruler also obtained his religious education from Sekolah Agama Air Molek in Johor Baru.
After completing his secondary education, Sultan Ibrahim underwent basic military training at Pusat Latihan Darat in Kota Tinggi, Johor, for three months.
Sultan Ibrahim also received military training in the United States at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was appointed deputy commander of the Johor Military Force upon completing his military training overseas.
The Ruler has trained and served in the Air Force and Navy, and is a qualified green beret commando in Malaysia and the United States. Sultan Ibrahim is also a member of the Red Beret Kompasus of Indonesia and a fully qualified divemaster.
As part of his training for kingship, Sultan Ibrahim joined the Johor Civil Service and served in various departments, including the district office and the land, health and treasury departments.
In 1981, he was proclaimed the Tunku Mahkota of Johor.
Sultan Ibrahim is married to Raja Zarith Sofiah, a Perak princess and an Oxford University graduate, who also serves as the chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
The couple is blessed with six children – Tunku Ismail, Tunku Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Tunku Idris Iskandar Ismail Abdul Rahman, the late Tunku Abdul Jalil Iskandar Ibrahim Ismail, Tunku Abdul Rahman Hassanal Jeffri and Tunku Abu Bakar Mahmood Iskandar Ibrahim.
