Malaysia names Sultan Ibrahim as next king

Malaysia’s royal families elected the powerful and outspoken Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar from the southern state of Johor to be the country’s next king. The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia, but the monarchy has become more influential in recent years due to prolonged political instability that has prompted the incumbent king to wield rarely used discretionary powers. Sultan Ibrahim will take over from current King Al-Sultan Abdullah on January 31, 2024.