KUALA LUMPUR: Born on Nov 22, 1958, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar holds complete military training across the armed forces.
Set to rule the country as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim's leadership qualities were evident from the day he was selected as a platoon commander during his training at Pulada.
According to the official Johor State website, Sultan Ibrahim excelled in numerous military training programmes conducted at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
This included specialised courses in American Special Forces and Pathfinder, where he successfully executed 19 parachute jumps, eight of them under the cover of night.
His exceptional performance earned him a prestigious wing designation, and he was further promoted to commander. Sultan Ibrahim was also commissioned as a member of the SEAL team.
The Sultan also had helicopter training with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and naval training at the Royal Malaysian Navy Base in Lumut.
Apart from his military background, the Sultan also completed two courses; the "Southeast Asian Strategic Studies", and the "International Laws of the Seas" at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston.
Sultan Ibrahim was proclaimed as the Tunku Mahkota of Johor on July 3, 1981 and later as the regent of Johor from April 25, 1984 until April 25, 1989 when his father, Sultan Iskandar was elected as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The father of six was proclaimed as the Sultan of Johor on Jan 23, 2010.
The Sultan is mostly known for his strong bond with his Rakyat, forged through initiatives like the Kembara Mahkota Johor Programme- a motorcycle convoy.
The high-powered motorcycle convoy has been held annually since 2001, serving as a platform to carry out various welfare projects across all 10 districts in the state of Johor.
Sultan Ibrahim has a profound interest in sports, particularly polo, which has led him to participate in international championships.
He also plays tennis and takes part in sailing, shooting, driving, and skydiving.
Sultan Ibrahim has made a momentous mark in the Malaysia Book of Records as the very first Sultan to hold an official train driving licence. His achievement was realised through the successful execution of an 86-tonne locomotive turntable manoeuvre, which earned him the Class 26 Train Driving License.
The licence was officially bestowed upon him during a significant ceremony at the Gemas Railway Station.
Sultan Ibrahim is poised to begin his service on Jan 31, 2024, together with Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, who has been re-elected as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong.