Malaysia’s King seeks treatment abroad for unspecified illness
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Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, flew out of Selangor state without specifying where he was going.
PHOTO: ROYAL PRESS OFFICE
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KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, has left the country for medical treatment, according to his official Facebook page.
The King, 66, flew out early on Feb 7 from the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Selangor state, a Facebook post said, without specifying what treatment he was seeking or where he was going.
The Conference of Rulers, comprising Malaysia’s royal rulers and governors, and the government have been informed of the matter, the national palace said in a separate statement.
“The people are asked to pray that His Majesty is blessed with a speedy recovery and long-lasting health,” it said.
Sultan Ibrahim, the ruler of the southernmost state of Johor, took the throne in 2024, a role that has become increasingly important in determining who holds power in Malaysia, which has seen a revolving door of prime ministers since 2018.
He underwent an angioplasty procedure at Gleneagles Medical Centre in Singapore in 2016.
In 2023, he had shoulder surgery at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur to treat an old injury.
Under Malaysia’s unique constitutional monarchy, the hereditary royals of nine states take turns on the throne.
Shortly after his ascension to the throne, Sultan Ibrahim warned against threatening stability under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and said fighting corruption would be among his priorities. BLOOMBERG, AFP
