PETALING JAYA: MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong extended his congratulations and well wishes to Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim over his appointment as the Regent of Johor.
"May DYAM Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim and the royal family be granted graces, blessings, glory, and wellness in serving the state of Johor Darul Ta'zim," the Ayer Hitam MP said in a Facebook post on Monday (Jan 29).
The 39-year-old Johor Crown Prince took his oath during a ceremony at Istana Bukit Serene on Sunday (Jan 28).
The ceremony was held three days before his father, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, ascends the federal throne as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for five years this coming Wednesday (Jan 31).
Tunku Ismail had previously been appointed Regent on several occasions, the most recent being on June 16, 2022, during a period when Sultan Ibrahim took a brief respite from his royal administrative duties.
Born on June 30, 1984, in Johor Baru, he is the eldest of six children of Sultan Ibrahim and Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.
He underwent military training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun as a cadet officer from July 17, 2003 until Dec 11, 2004 and was assigned the rank of Lieutenant upon completing his training.
He trained at the 61st Cavalry Unit in Jaipur, India, for two years before returning to Malaysia to join the Special Forces Course at the Iskandar Camp in Mersing.
He also received training at the Special Warfare Training Centre.
Tunku Ismail, who has a keen interest in polo and football, has been the Johor Football Association president since Feb 16, 2012.
He married Her Highness Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor on Oct 24, 2014 and they have been blessed with two sons and two daughters: Tunku Khalsom Aminah Sofiah, Tunku Iskandar Abdul Jalil Abu Bakar Ibrahim, Tunku Abu Bakar Ibrahim and Tunku Zahrah Zarith Aziyah.
Johoreans have since expressed excitement about the state's future now that Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim has been appointed Regent of Johor.
