Malaysia to elect next king on Friday

Malaysia operates under a distinctive system where the leaders of its nine royal families take turns serving as monarchs for five-year terms. This Southeast Asian nation functions as a parliamentary democracy, with the monarch holding the position of head of state.

While the selection of the king is carried out through a confidential vote, historical practice suggests that appointments have adhered to a predetermined rotation since Malaysia's independence. This implies that Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, hailing from the southern state of Johor, is positioned to assume the role following King Al-Sultan Abdullah, whose reign is set to conclude in January.

Johor, connected to the city-state of Singapore by a causeway, has seen Sultan Ibrahim advocate for the establishment of a special economic zone with Singapore to strengthen bilateral relations.

In contrast to typical Malaysian monarchs, Sultan Ibrahim has been notably vocal about political matters and has openly expressed a positive relationship with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He is renowned for his involvement in various business ventures, holding shares in major corporations, including a private company engaged in a joint venture with the Chinese property developer, Country Garden, for the Forest City project.

The future of Forest City, a colossal $100-billion development situated on four reclaimed islands off Johor, has recently raised concerns due to apprehensions regarding the financial stability of the financially strained Country Garden.

While the role of Malaysia's king is primarily ceremonial and entails only a few discretionary powers, the monarchy has gained increased influence in recent years amid the backdrop of political uncertainty.

Under the provisions of the constitution, the king's powers encompass the authority to appoint a prime minister capable of securing a majority in parliament.

Since assuming the throne in 2019, Al-Sultan Abdullah has exercised this authority on three occasions, most recently in November when he appointed Anwar Ibrahim following an election that resulted in a hung parliament.

The king also possesses the prerogative to grant pardons to convicted individuals. In 2018, Al-Sultan Abdullah's predecessor, Sultan Muhammad V, granted a pardon to Anwar, who had been imprisoned on charges of sodomy and corruption, which he contended were politically motivated.

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was incarcerated last year due to a corruption conviction linked to the 1MDB state fund scandal, has submitted a request for a royal pardon, which may be reviewed by the new king.