Malaysia welcomed its new king, Sultan Ibrahim, in a grand ceremony held on Saturday at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. The newly crowned monarch is known for his motorbikes, was sworn in in January and is now officially the country's 17th king.
The monarchy of this country rotates every five years among the rulers of the nine states, each with its own royal family.
Although the office of king is eminently ceremonial, in this part of the world it has played an increasingly important role in recent years, especially due to the political crisis.
Royal intervention was necessary to appoint three prime ministers following the collapse of governments and a hung parliament that followed scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak's 2018 election defeat.
In addition to overseeing key political appointments, the king acts as the official head of Islam in the Muslim-majority country and commander-in-chief of its armed forces.
According to BloombergThe 65-year-old and his family, also known as the rulers of southern Johor, are estimated to be worth at least $5.7 billion.
The family also owns land in Singapore and is an investor in the palm oil, real estate and telecommunications industries.
The grand coronation ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of neighbouring Brunei and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Ibrahim is married with six children and has in the past made annual trips around Johor on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, handing out charity to the poor.
The biker also has a deep interest in business, including a stake in a $100 billion development project called Forest City. He has a collection of luxury cars and private jets.
In early 1984, Sultan Ibrahim's father, Sultan Iskander, held the crown; this was the last time a Sultan of Johor became king.
