Influential Sultan to Take Malaysia Throne as Royals Gain Power
- New monarch will start his five-year term in January
- Southeast Asian country rotates kings in a unique arrangement
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Malaysia chose the Sultan of Johor as its next king, a role that’s become increasingly important in determining who takes power in the Southeast Asian nation.
The country’s royal families on Friday elected Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the ruler of the country’s southernmost state bordering Singapore, according to a statement. Sultan Ibrahim, who commands a private army and has significant business interests, will replace King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, whose term is set to expire in late January.