Tunku Puteri Kamariah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the Tunku Puteri and Tengku Puan Laksamana of Selangor Tengku Sulaiman Shah, the Tengku Laksamana of Selangor
Tengku Shakirinal Amin Mahmud Ismail Ahmad Shah
Tengku Salehuddin Ismail Shah, the Tengku Indera Bijaya Diraja of Selangor
Tengku Shahrain Ismail Ibrahim Iskandar Hishamuddin Shah
Tengku Sharifuddin Ibrahim Ismail Iskandar Abdul Aziz Shah
Tengku Kathira Zanariah Ihsan Maimunah Aminah Iskandar Putri
Tunku Besar Zabedah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the Tunku Besar
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
A motorcycle enthusiast, Sultan Ibrahim is the founder of the annual motorcycling tour event Kembara Mahkota Johor.[1]
On 31 January 2024, he was sworn in as the seventeenth
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia,[2] having been elected to a five-year term on 27 October 2023.[3][4]
Biography
Early life
Tunku Ibrahim was born on 22 November 1958 at Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaya, during the reign of his great-grandfather, Sultan Sir Ibrahim of Johor. He was the third child and eldest son of Sultan Iskandar by his first wife, Josephine Ruby Trevorrow, an English woman from Torquay. Iskandar met Trevorrow while studying in England.[5][6][7][8] Trevorrow, a proprietor by profession, temporarily took on the name Khalsom binti Abdullah following her marriage to Iskandar. Ibrahim's mother later remarried and returned to England.[9]
Ibrahim's great-grandfather died in London on 8 May 1959. Thus, Ibrahim's grandfather,
Ibrahim was appointed as the Crown Prince of Johor on 3 July 1981,
Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.[10] In recent years, Ibrahim gradually took over some state duties and functions from his aging father.[13] These included the 211th Conference of Rulers, where Ibrahim and Abdullah, the Crown Prince of Pahang, represented their fathers in the meetings,[14] among other state functions.[15]
Shortly before Filipino opposition politician
Johor-Singapore Causeway.[16] Once in Johor, Aquino also met with Ibrahim's father, Iskandar, who was a close friend.[17]
Sultan of Johor
A few hours before his father's death on 22 January 2010, Tunku Ibrahim was appointed as the Regent of Johor, following medical reports that suggested Sultan Iskandar's impending demise.[18] Sultan Iskandar died on the same night, and Tunku Ibrahim was installed as the Sultan of Johor the following morning.[19] The Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Johor, Abdul Ghani Othman cited that Sultan Ibrahim and immediate members of the royal family would undertake a mourning period of 40 days.[20] During the mourning season, Sultan Ibrahim made his inaugural presence at the Conference of Rulers in February 2010 as the Sultan of Johor.[21]
On 30 June 2011, Sultan Ibrahim drove the last train from Tanjong Pagar railway station, having received tuition from Chief Locomotive Inspector Hasnol Azahari Aman of Keretapi Tanah Melayu to enable him to do this. He stated that he wished to do this as his grandfather, Sultan Ismail, had opened the causeway between Singapore and Malaya in 1923, and that it was appropriate that he should drive the last train out of the station.[22]
Sungai Muar which could be done by relocating the bus and taxi terminals elsewhere.[24]
Sultan Ibrahim was crowned as the sultan of Johor on 23 March 2015.[25] The last coronation was that of his grandfather Sultan Ismail on 10 February 1960.[26] From 2015 onwards, 23 March is made an annual state public holiday as the Sultan's official birthday, replacing the public holiday on 22 November, the Sultan's actual birthday.[27]
Sultan Johor is noted for advocating religious moderation and has criticised the creeping
Despite being the only sultan in Malaysia without tertiary (post-secondary) education, he has promoted quality education for Johor.
On 6 January 2024, Sultan Ibrahim decreed that he would not grant any audiences till he ascends to the throne as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 31 January 2024. He would not be accepting any appointments except for the previously scheduled events and the weekly audiences with the Menteri Besar and the state government of Johor as he wanted to spend the remaining time before the ascension with the royal family.[29]
His official swearing in and possession of the Istana Negara occurred on 31 January 2024.[2]
Family
Sultan Ibrahim married
Sultan Idris Shah II of Perak on 22 September 1982.[32][33]
They have six children:
Tunku Ismail Idris Abdul Majid Abu Bakar (born 30 June 1984). He was appointed the Deputy Crown Prince in April 2006 by Sultan Iskandar,[34] and became the Crown Prince upon Sultan Ibrahim's accession in January 2010.
Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah (born 8 April 1986)[35] She was bestowed the title Tun by Sultan Ibrahim in 2012. She married Dato' Dennis Muhammad Abdullah (né Dennis Verbaas), a former semi-professional footballer from the Netherlands, on 14 August 2017.[36]
Tunku Idris Iskandar (born 25 December 1987)[37] the Tunku Temenggong of Johor. He was appointed as the Regent of Johor during the absence of his father on 29 September 2012.[38]
Almarhum (Late) Tunku Abdul Jalil (5 July 1990 – 5 December 2015) the Tunku Laksamana of Johor[39]
Tunku Abdul Rahman (born 5 February 1993)[40] the Tunku Panglima of Johor[39]
Tunku Abu Bakar (born 30 May 2001) the Tunku Putera of Johor[39]
Decrees
Sultan Ibrahim has issued decrees including the following.
Public weekend from Saturday/Sunday to Friday/Saturday
Johor, as with the former
Federal Territory which observe their weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. Johor, together with Perlis, moved their weekend to Saturday and Sunday on 1 January 1994 to synchronise with neighboring Singapore as well as with Kuala Lumpur
, as Johor by then was a quickly industrialising state.
However, on 22 November 2013, on Sultan Ibrahim's birthday celebrations, he decreed that Johor will move back its weekend to Friday and Saturday, to enable
Muslims in the state to attend their Friday prayers, effective 1 January 2014. This move was not without controversy due to the disruptions it caused, particularly for private businesses dealing with Singapore. The private sector nevertheless continues to rest on Saturdays and Sundays.[41]
District name changes
In August 2015, Sultan Ibrahim decreed that the name of
vaping in Johor effective 1 January 2016. The purposes of the ban is for the sake of the health of the Johor state residents. Kelantan and Terengganu followed soon after.[46]
Ban on oversized signboards
In January 2016, Sultan Ibrahim also decreed that signboards for businesses must not exceed 6.1 m × 1.2 m (20 ft × 4 ft), so as to prevent any dangers to the public as well as to reduce unsightly signboards which mar the city's beauty.[47]
Controversies
Allegations of criminal misconduct
Occasional reports of alleged criminal misconduct from the 1980s onwards marred Tunku Ibrahim's reputation somewhat, albeit to a much lesser extent than his father, Sultan Iskandar, whose past heinous crimes had received considerable attention from mainstream media.[48] In the 1980s, he was convicted of shooting dead a man in a nightclub during a feud, but was quickly pardoned.[49][50]
In late 1992 to early 1993, Tunku Ibrahim also experienced fallouts of the
Tunku Majid were accused of two separate but related incidences of assault which provoked a moral outrage nationwide and ultimately resulting in constitutional amendments allowing members of the royalty to be prosecuted for criminal wrongdoings. During that period of time, the press, which was supported by the Malaysian government, launched a series of vociferous press reports on the history of alleged incidences of royal wrongdoings,[51] of which parliamentarians highlighted that Tunku Ibrahim had been convicted in at least two cases of assault in the 1980s.[52] This included a victim who was allegedly assaulted by Tunku Ibrahim, Rahim Mohd Nor, who went so far as to describe his assault experience as an act of sadism by Tunku Ibrahim.[53]
In March 2005, a member of the Malaysian royalty allegedly assaulted a young woman by the name of Yasmin whom he accused of two-timing him with another policeman.[54] The victim's father, Mohd Yasin, later lodged a police report which alleged that the assault culprit was Tunku Ibrahim, the then Tunku Mahkota of Johor.[55]
Other incidents
In October 2005, a brawl occurred on
Pulau Rawa after a Johor prince allegedly gatecrashed a wedding party. The prince ordered some guests off the island after a fight broke out when a woman refused to dance with one of the gatecrashers. The locals, who felt offended by the woman's attitude, went off but soon returned with golf clubs and weapons and started a fight. In the process, several people were injured and sent to hospital, while five others were arrested, including a 20-year-old prince from the Johor royal family. The names of the culprits were not released by the police, who chose to retain the confidentiality of the attackers.[56] The Tunku Mahkota issued a press statement to urge the culprits to apologise to the affected guests.[57]
The following June, press reports leaked that Tunku Ibrahim had chalked RM26,700 worth of unpaid traffic fines since 2000, causing much embarrassment to the crown prince.[58][59] A later report quoted him settling all the past fines with the traffic police.[60]
Tunku Ibrahim also spent lavishly on an unusual car plate number. For example, in May 2012, he spent RM520,000 to successfully bid for the car number plate WWW 1
Satria Neo.[62][63] In January 2014, he spent a record breaking RM748,000 on the car plate number W1N for[64] his blue Suprima S.[65] In July 2016, he also spent a record breaking RM836,660 on the car plate number F1 for his ruby red Proton Perdana.[66] He continued to break records by securing the FF1 number plate for RM1.2mil and GOLD1 number plate for RM1.5mil. [67]
Business dealings
Although given a monthly allowance of RM27,000,[68] Sultan Ibrahim had done some business dealings such as
Investment in Berjaya Time Square (20% equity)[75]
Sold 116 acres of prime seafront land in Johor Bahru (previously converted from State land to Sultanate land, formerly the southbound heavy vehicle and passenger vehicle separate border crossings from Malaysia to Singapore, before the Johor–Singapore Causeway) and coastal reclamation rights, to Guangzhou R&F for MYR 4.5 billion[76]
Benalec Holdings reclamation sites in Pengarang
Tanjung Piai for petroleum facilities and a maritime industrial park
Country Garden's reclamation of 4 islands off Tanjung Kupang for the Forest City megaproject (expected size of 3,425 acres, adjacent to the Malaysia–Singapore Second Link), of which Sultan Ibrahim has 64.4% equity in Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd, which in turn has 34% equity in the joint-venture company Country Garden Pacific View (CGPV) Sdn Bhd.[77]
As a Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim's full title and style in Malay: Duli Yang Maha MuliaSultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, D.K. (Johor), D.K. (Perak), D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Perlis), D.K. (Selangor), D.K. (Negeri Sembilan), D.K. (Terengganu), D.K.M.B. (Brunei), S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.P.M.T, S.M.N, S.P.M.K, S.P.M.P, P.I.S, Sultan Yang Dipertuan Bagi Negeri dan Jajahan Takluk Johor Darul Ta’zim.[78]
while in English: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, D.K. (Johor), D.K. (Perak), D.K. (Kelantan), D.K. (Perlis), D.K. (Selangor), D.K. (Negeri Sembilan), D.K. (Terengganu), D.K.M.B. (Brunei), S.P.M.J, S.S.I.J, S.P.M.T, S.M.N, S.P.M.K, S.P.M.P, P.I.S, The Sultan and Sovereign Ruler of the State of Johor, The Abode of Dignity and its dependencies.[79]
During his tenure as
Yang di-Pertuan Agong (2024–present), Sultan Ibrahim's full title and style in Malay is: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim[80]
while in English: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia[81] or simply His Majesty The King of Malaysia[82]
^Facts on File Yearbook, Published by Facts on File, inc., 1957, Phrase: "Married: Prince Tengku Mahmud, 24, grandson of the Sultan of Johore, & Josephine Ruby Trevorrow, 21, daughter of an English textile..."
The International Who's Who 2004: Book with Single-User Online Access, by Elizabeth Sleeman, published by Europa Publications, Published by Routledge, 2003,
Towards Relevant Education: A General Sourcebook for Teachers, published by Education Forum (Philippines), Alternative Instructional Materials Project, Education Forum, 1986,