Hey, so Malaysia just had this big deal where they crowned their new king, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. It was a pretty flashy event, with all sorts of traditional stuff and even cannons going off to mark the occasion. Sultan Ibrahim is a billionaire and now the 17th king of the country. The whole thing went down at the national palace on January 31.
How They Do Kings Over There
This new king is going to be on the throne for five years, thanks to Malaysia's cool system where they take turns. It's like musical chairs, but with sultans and palaces. Only nine of the 13 states have royal families, and they all get a shot at being king. This system started when they broke free from the British in 1957.
The Fancy Party
So, the big day came, and Sultan Ibrahim and his queen, Raja Zarith Sofiah, were dressed to the nines in some traditional black and gold outfits. They got a military welcome with all the salutes before sitting on their big throne. There were other VIPs there too, like Brunei's Sultan and Bahrain's king, all watching from a special stage.
What Happened at the Party
First up, they gave Sultan Ibrahim a Quran to kiss and a gold dagger, which is basically a fancy "you're in charge now" knife. Then, the prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, promised that the government would stick by the king and keep the country strong. That's when everyone called him the new king officially.
The King's Speech
The new king talked to everyone and said he'd be fair and make sure the government helps people live better and gets the country going in the right direction. After that, everyone shouted "Long live the king" three times because, you know, traditions.
Who's This Sultan Ibrahim Guy Anyway?
This new king is from Johor, which is right next to Singapore. He's got his hands in a lot of businesses, like telecoms and real estate. He's got a sweet ride collection of cars and bikes, and he even has his own army, which is pretty cool. He's not shy about talking politics either, often speaking out against corruption and stuff like that.
What the King Does for a Living
As the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, which is a fancy way to say king, Sultan Ibrahim doesn't run the country day-to-day. That's the prime minister's job. But he's like the boss of bosses, with the power to say yes or no to new laws, picking who's in the government, and calling for elections. Oh, and if things go really wrong, he can take over temporarily. Plus, he's the big cheese for the military and looks out for Islam and old-school Malay traditions.
So, that's the lowdown on the new king of Malaysia and his fancy hat-passing ceremony. Pretty cool, huh?