In an interview, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar expressed his lack of interest in serving as a “puppet king” and committed to fighting corruption in Malaysia.
The Sultan made it clear that he intends to crack down on corruption and bring results, stating that people contribute large amounts of money before elections and are then repaid through mega projects.
He emphasized that this practice will not continue while he is in office.
Sultan Ibrahim is set to begin his five-year term as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31, 2024, and in the interview with The Straits Times/ANN, he suggested that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should report directly to the King rather than to Parliament.
He believes that this change would prevent the agency from being influenced by the Executive and would improve its independence.
Additionally, Sultan Ibrahim stated that PETRONAS, the national oil giant, should also report directly to him, rather than being under the control of Parliament.
He raised the issue of judicial appointments being separate from the Executive and called for an independent selection process in which the Conference of Rulers is consulted before appointments are made.
Sultan Ibrahim expressed his intentions to use his influence to enact positive changes, emphasizing that he is aligned with the people of Malaysia rather than with the members of Parliament.
Despite his ambitious plans, the Sultan acknowledged feeling “scared” at the prospect of taking up the throne and facing an unfamiliar culture.
