ALBAWABA - Today, millionaire Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was crowned in Malaysia. The 65-year-old king has pledged to rule justly throughout his five-year term under the rotating monarchy.
Sultan Ibrahim took his oath in January, but today's National Palace ceremony crowned him Malaysia's 17th King. Rich Malay customs and splendor defined the occasion.
After five years, Sultan Ibrahim will replace Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who will return to Pahang.
Malaysia's rotating monarchy, founded in 1957 after independence from Britain, permits nine Malay state monarchs to preside for five years.
Before taking the throne, Sultan Ibrahim and Queen Raja Zarith Sofia were greeted in black and gold.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain attended.
Sultan Ibrahim kissed a Quran to show reverence at the ceremony's commencement. He got a golden dagger for authority. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed government commitment and stressed the monarchy's national importance. Sultan Ibrahim became Malaysia's next king.
The coronation speech of Sultan Ibrahim vowed, "God willing, I will carry out my duties with integrity and fairness, and I will rule justly."
He urged Prime Minister Anwar's government to improve living conditions and national growth. After the Sultan swore, the hall visitors shouted "Long live the King" three times. Sultan Ibrahim, a Johor native, is one of Malaysia's richest with a telecoms and real estate empire.
