Sultan Ibrahim has been elected as the supreme monarch of Malaysia, and he is set to assume his duties on January 31, 2024. This announcement was made by the Bernama news agency.
The election of the new head of state took place at the Istana Negara palace, which serves as the residence of the monarch in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The incumbent supreme head of Malaysia, Abdullah Riyatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah, had previously expressed his intention to conclude his term by the end of January 2024. He has held this position since January 31, 2019.
The role of the country's supreme leader is primarily ceremonial, and according to the constitution, government decisions are made in his name and with his consent. However, in practice, the monarch typically acts upon the recommendations of the government or parliament. Recent political instability has led to the monarchy playing a more significant role in the country, with the king appointing the head of government on three occasions between 2020 and 2022.
Malaysia employs a unique system of rotating hereditary sultans as the supreme head of state. The supreme monarch is elected, along with a deputy (viceroy), for a five-year term from among the hereditary rulers of the nine states, with the stipulation that they cannot be re-elected for a second consecutive term. The candidate is selected from a list established in 1957 when the position of king was first established.
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Based on materials from TASS