Meeting of minds: Sultan Ibrahim (second from left) with (from left) Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, Crown Prince of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the pre-council meeting of the 266th Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur. — Pic courtesy of Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook page
JOHOR BARU: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has always prioritised the people’s interests, according to Johor Council of Royal Court president Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Ramli.
He said His Majesty disliked wasting the people’s time and stressed efficiency during royal ceremonies and events.
Abdul Rahim, who has served the Johor royal court since the reign of Almarhum Sultan Ismail, Sultan Ibrahim’s grandfather, said His Majesty managed his time well and preferred functions to be time-saving.
“His Majesty prefers brevity. Ceremonies must be conducted swiftly and accurately.
“When giving speeches, Sultan Ibrahim prefers them to be concise as he does not want to waste the public’s time,” he told Bernama recently.
He said Sultan Ibrahim was gentle, compassionate and against the use of harsh language, adding that His Majesty greatly emphasised detail, especially when granting audiences.
“As the president of the council, I must be prepared and anticipate what His Majesty wants to know, so I will prepare a proposal paper to be presented (to His Majesty).
“Sultan Ibrahim would ask how it affects the people, what they will think and what its significance is,” he said.
On his experience accompanying Sultan Ibrahim during visits to the people in the state districts, he said His Majesty, who was then the Crown Prince of Johor, constantly reminded him to organise meetings with as many people as possible.
Abdul Rahim added that during those meetings, His Majesty would join the people for meals.
“His Majesty’s favourite dishes include white rice, ikan masak asam pedas (spicy, sour fish), dried fish, sambal belacan (shrimp paste sambal) and sayur nangka masak lemak (jackfruit in coconut milk).
“His Majesty likes to sit with the people on the mat and eat using his hand. Many people do not know this side of him,” he said.
He also said Sultan Ibrahim’s endearing traits were evident during the iconic Kembara Mahkota Johor (KMJ), an annual royal expedition that began in 2001.
Abdul Rahim said through KMJ, Sultan Ibrahim and the Johor royal family, together with state government officials, would tackle the people’s plight, distribute goods and channel assistance.
He said Sultan Ibrahim always ensured that no Johorean was left behind or marginalised, as evidenced through the creation of various foundations that His Majesty himself funded.
Abdul Rahim prayed that His Majesty and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, would be blessed with longevity and remain in Allah’s blessing, adding that the country would continue progressing and prosper under Sultan Ibrahim’s reign.
The installation ceremony of Sultan Ibrahim as the 17th King of Malaysia will be held at Istana Negara on Saturday.
