JOHOR BARU: The new Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar is regarded as a caring person who will ensure no one is left out in the development of the state.
Seen as a jack-of-all-trades, his close friend Ungku Mokhsin Ungku Mohamed said Sultan Ibrahim, 51, had numerous business-savvy ideas to boost progress here.
Outreach convoy: Sultan Ibrahim leading off a KMJ convoy in Johor Baru on April 26, 2004 when he was still the Tunku Mahkota. Riding as passenger is Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Mokhsin, who was a former schoolmate at English College, now known as Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar, described the new Sultan as a person who cared about the people, including orang asli.
“He really takes a keen interest in the people’s well-being,” he said when contacted.
Sultan Ibrahim was appointed Johor’s Ruler following the passing of his father Sultan Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail on Friday.
He was proclaimed the new Ruler in accordance with the Johor State Constitution 1895.
Mokhsin, a businessman, said that Sultan Ibrahim had reached out to countless people through his Kembara Mahkota Johor (KMJ) programme, which has been running for years.
He also said that Sultan Ibrahim was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his loved ones.
“He really adores his wife and children,” said Mokhsin.
All his six children were well-mannered and mingled well with the people, he said, adding that his eldest son, Tunku Ismail Idris, who is the Raja Muda, received his military education at the Indian Military Academy in India.
Asked about his business ventures, Mokhsin quipped: “Almost anything that he touches seem to turn into gold.”
He also said that Sultan Ibrahim loved cars and was fond of animals like his father.
Born in 1958 in Johor Baru, Sultan Ibrahim was appointed Tunku Mahkota of Johor on July 4, 1981.
He was the Regent between 1984 and 1989 when Sultan Iskandar served his term as the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He studied at SK Temenggong Abdul Rahman before leaving for Trinity Grammar School in Australia in 1968. In 1970, he continued his studies at Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar.
He also obtained his religious education from Sekolah Agama Bukit Zaharah and Sekolah Agama Air Molek.
After completing his secondary education, Sultan Ibrahim underwent basic military training at Pusat Latihan Darat in Kota Tinggi for three months.
He also received military training in the United States at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
He was appointed deputy commander of the Johor Military Force upon completing his military training overseas.
