Written by : Subashini Selvaratnam
Do you know Johor is the first state in the Malay Peninsula to introduce the constitutional monarchy system through the Constitution? Through this law, it was decided that the Sultan of Johor should be a descendant of Sultan Abu Bakar and the heir to the throne of Johor with the title of Tunku Mahkota. This law also touches on the appointment of magistrates, ministers and government meetings.
The law that we are speaking about is the Johor State Constitution, which was promulgated on 4 April 1895. It is a written law that has become the basic constitution to explain the government system in the state of Johor. This law was enacted by Sultan Abu Bakar together with state officials at Istana Besar Johor. It is written in Jawi by a law firm called Messrs Rodyk and Davidson in Singapore.
Biography of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim was born on November 22, 1958, at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bahru. He is the eldest son and third child among four children of Almarhum Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail and Almarhum Enche’ Besar Khalsom Abdullah.
Sultan Ibrahim began his basic education at the Tunku Ampuan Mariam Children’s Education Centre, Johor Bahru before starting his primary education at Temenggong Abdul Rahman(1) Primary School, Johor Bahru. He then attended Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia from 1968 to 1970. Subsequently, he continued his secondary studies at English College (Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar) from 1971 to 1975. He also received religious education at Ayer Molek Religious School, Johor Bahru.
After finishing secondary school, the young prince began military training at the Army Training Centre (PULADA), Kota Tinggi and was appointed as a platoon commander before attending military training for young officers at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA.
His Majesty also underwent Airborne and Ranger training for infantry officers, and continued American Special Forces and Pathfinder training. He has made 19 parachute jumps, eight of them at night. He was then selected and recognised with wings, subsequently gaining recognition as a commando.
Sultan Ibrahim is also recognised as a member of the SEAL team (army, sea and air). His Majesty has also performed several dives in Bandung Indonesia before being recognised as an honorary member of the Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS), Indonesia. He has also undergone helicopter pilot training with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and was given wings on April 26, 1982 from Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. He also underwent naval training at the Royal Malaysian Navy Base in Lumut, Perak. His Majesty is thus rightly a land sea and air force officer.
Upon His Majesty’s return from the United States, he was appointed as the Deputy Commander of Askar Timbalan Setia Negeri Johor (ATSN), which is the Johor Military Force. He underwent helicopter flight training at RMAF Kluang, and then went to Fort Whacker United States for further training at the Advanced Helicopter Flying School.
His Majesty then continued his studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston, Massachusetts, United States by completing two courses, namely the Southeast Asian Strategic Studies course and the International Law of the Seas course.
His Majesty had also served with the Johor state government and was placed in various departments to learn aspects of management and state administration. On July 3 1981, the then young prince was proclaimed Tunku Mahkota Johor. On September 22 1982, he married a princess from the state of Perak, Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah. They are blessed with five sons and one daughter.
From April 25, 1984 to April 25, 1989, His Majesty was appointed as the Regent of Johor when his father, the late Sultan Mahmood Iskandar, was appointed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong VIII. He was proclaimed the Sultan of Johor on January 23, 2010 after his father’s demise. His Majesty’s coronation ceremony was held on March 23, 2015 at Istana Besar Johor.
Passions and Interests
Sultan Ibrahim has keen interest in sports, especially polo, which has led him to participate in various tournaments up to the international level. His Majesty is also interested in tennis, water surfing, shooting, driving sports cars, and parachuting. His Majesty has also created history and received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) by obtaining a Class 26 Train Driving License after completing an 86-tonne locomotive turning event using a turntable on June 29, 2010 at the Gemas Train Station. He is also a qualified and licensed pilot for rotary, fixed-wing and jet aircrafts.
Biography of Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia
Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah was born on August 14, 1959 at the Batu Gajah Hospital, Perak. She is the second daughter and third child of Almarhum Sultan of Perak, Paduka Seri Sultan Idris Shah II and Almarhum Raja Perempuan Muzwin Almarhum Raja Dato’ Sri Arif Shah.
Raja Zarith Sofiah received her early education at Datin Khadijah National School, Kuala Kangsar, and then continued her secondary education at Raja Perempuan Kalsom Girls’ National School, also in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. In September 1972, she continued her studies at the Chaltenham Ladies College in England, and then pursued her undergraduate studies at Somerville College, University of Oxford, England in 1979.
Her Majesty is also known as a linguist, having studied several languages such as French, Italian and Mandarin. She was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Chinese Studies on November 26, 1983.
Her Majesty was betrothed to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and wedded on September 22, 1982. Their Majesties are blessed with five sons and one daughter.
Passions and Interests
Raja Zarith Sofiah also inherited her late father’s artistic interest and talent, especially in painting. Her Majesty has been involved in several art exhibitions, such as the Johor Heritage Foundation Art Gallery in 2003 and an art exhibition organised by Maybank Kuala Lumpur in 2004, which paid tribute to three generations of Johor artists.
Her Majesty is also a prolific writer who had her own column in major newspapers, and written various children’s story books. In 1995, Her Majesty authored and published four children’s books.
Her book entitled On Common Ground: A Collection of Articles, was launched in October 2013 by Seri Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong XIV. It is a collection of Her Majesty’s articles in the column ‘On Common Ground’ and ‘Mind Matters’ that were published in newspapers like New Straits Times and The Sunday Star from 2000 to 2011.
Pictures
Pix 1: His Majesty playing polo at Istana Pasir Pelangi.
Pix 2: Tiger-striped Harley Davidson Motorcycle – This tiger-striped Harley Davidson motorcycle is a personal collection of His Majesty and was often used in the Kembara Mahkota Johor tour series and Malaysian Motor Week programme.
Pix 3: The Morgan Three Wheeler – This British-made Morgan Three Wheeler was specially designed in conjunction with KMJ 2017, according to His Majesty’s specifications, and it became an attraction for the public and the people of Johor throughout the four-day programme that crossed several districts. Featuring green in colour, it has no doors or roof, and the coat of arms of Sultan Ibrahim is displayed on its body.
Pix 4: A storybook on Puteri Gunung Ledang by Raja Permaisuri Agong.
Pix 5: An abstract painting of three sad women by Raja Permaisuri Agong.
Pix 6: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofia after the Crowning Ceremony on March 23, 2015.
References
1. Commemorative book for Pameran Raja Kita (2024) in conjunction with the installation of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Ke-17, Sultan Ibrahim.
2. Image source: Commemorative book from Raja Kita exhibition, 2024.
Museum Volunteers, JMM 