In 2016, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar showed his signature "love" symbol when attending the Johor Chingay procession as the Johor Ruler, 10 years since he first graced the event as the Tunku Mahkota Johor (Johor crown prince). With him was then Johor tourism, domestic trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong.
SULTAN Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar’s presence always added another dimension to the annual Chingay procession, said the Johor Baru Tiong-Hua Association.
The association, which has affiliations with about 80 Chinese non-governmental organisations in the state, is the main organiser of the annual Chingay Festival that falls on the 18th to 22nd day of the lunar new year.
Its president Ho Sow Tong said before Sultan Ibrahim became the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he attended the festival’s climatic event – the Chingay procession – four times in total.
“Tuanku graced our event in 2016, 2017, 2018 and also once when he was the Tunku Mahkota Johor or crown prince in 2006. He usually stayed for about an hour to enjoy the cultural performances from the main stage located in front of the Komtar JBCC shopping mall, he said.
“We believe that the Sultan’s presence attracted even more people to participate and watch the iconic event, which is also included in Johor’s tourism calendar.
“It also paved the way for people of other races to learn more about the Chinese culture,” he told The Star in an interview.
Ho looking at the photos of sultan Ibrahim at the annual Johor Chingayprocession over the years before His Majesty was appointed the yangdi-Pertuan agong. The photos are displayed at the association’s buildingin Taman sri Tebrau, Johor Baru
The Chingay procession, which is the climatic event of the five-day festival, is a Chinese New Year staple for the state’s Chinese community.
It is also the only time of the year where each of the deities from the five main Chinese dialect clans – Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka, Cantonese and Hainan – were brought out of the Johor Ancient Temple for a tour of the Johor Baru city centre.
Ho said that each year, hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators – both from Malaysia and overseas – turned up for the procession.
The festival was scaled down greatly for three years during the Covid-19 pandemic to curb the spread of the virus, said Ho, adding that it returned to its glory in 2023 and some 300,000 people showed up to participate and watch the procession.
“There is also a common saying among the community that the Chingay Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
This year’s Chingay Festival begins on the night of Feb 27 until March 2, with the procession taking place on March 1.
At the Johor Chingay procession in 2016, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar was presented with a photo of himself when he attended the event 10 years prior as the Tunku Mahkota Johor (Johor crown prince). With him are then Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (far right), then Johor tourism, domestic trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (second from right), then Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin (behind), and former Johor Baru Tiong-Hua Association president Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai (far left).
Ho said the fact that His Majesty was willing to attend the procession in the past meant a lot to the community and showed that he is welcoming and accepting of other cultures and beliefs.
“Aside from promoting the Bangsa Johor spirit of moderation, unity and harmony, Sultan Ibrahim is always quick to quash controversies especially when it touches on sensitive issues.
“This includes the 2017 incident where he ordered a self-operating launderette in Muar to immediately stop its discriminatory practice of only allowing Muslims to use its facilities, or risk being shut down by the Ruler himself.
“We need more leaders like His Majesty as Malaysia is a multi-racial society which calls for more understanding among the people,” he added.
“In 2021, Sultan Ibrahim also decreed that the Chinese community were not ‘pendatang’ (immigrants) but ‘guests’ invited to Johor by his forefathers to help develop the state. This was an important statement to make,” he said.
The Ruler reportedly made the statement to mark that year’s lunar celebration where he expressed appreciation for the Chinese community’s contribution in developing the state since the beginning of the Johor Sultanate in the 16th century.
Ho, who is the 12th president of the association, said that the Johor royal family and the Chinese community have long shared close ties.
Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar unveiling a Chinese calligaraphy artwork that was presented to him as a gift during the Johor Chingay procession in 2018.
It has been reported that the Chinese had come to Johor to trade during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and by 1844, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim had invited planters from China to plant gambier and pepper in the interior of the state.
Sultan Ibrahim reportedly said pepper and gambier were vital to the state’s economy in the 1800s with Europe as a major market.
The palace understood the skills and expertise in transforming Johor’s economy and even taking in the world market; this resulted in the special relationship between the Chinese and the palace, Tuanku reportedly said in 2021.
Later, Sultan Abu Bakar continued the goodwill started by Temenggong Ibrahim by providing the Chinese land to build their places of worship and for their burial.
In the late 19th century, a group of community leaders led by prominent figure Tan Hiok Nee built the Johor Ancient Temple at Jalan Trus. He was subsequently appointed Mejar Cina (Chinese Major) and made a member of Sultan Abu Bakar’s state council in 1868.
As a symbol of appreciation, prominent Johor entrepreneur Wong Ah Fook and Kapitan China Seah Thye Heng built the Chinese Hall (Dewan Cina) at the Istana Besar as a gift to Sultan Abu Bakar.
The building, located next to the Sultan Abu Bakar royal museum, still stands on the palace grounds today.
With Sultan Ibrahim starting his new journey as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31, Ho said he represented the community in Johor to wish him the best in his five-year reign.
