17th king of malaysia

• On January 31, billionaire Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of the southern state of Johor was appointed Malaysia's 17th king.

• He replaced Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who returned to lead his home state of Pahang at the end of his five-year tenure as king.

• In the presence of other royals, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and cabinet members, Ibrahim Iskandar took the oath of office at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur and signed a document declaring office in a ceremony.

• The coronation ceremony will be held later.

• Since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957, nine ethnic Malay state rulers have taken turns as king for five-year terms under the world's only such system.