Sultan Ibrahim
|
|
Sultan Ibrahim (in full, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar) was the second sultan of modern Johor, in Malaysia.
Born Che Wan Ibrahim on September 17, 1873 in Istana Bidadari, Singapore, he was the only son of Che Wan Abu Bakar, Temenggung of Johor by Che Puan Besar Zubaidah (nee Cecilia Lange). His title changed to Tunku Ibrahim in 1885, when his father, then Maharaja Abu Bakar, proclaimed himself sultan and sovereign of the state of Johor. He succeeded his father Sultan Abu Bakar in 1895. An Anglophile, Sultan Ibrahim continued the policy of friendly relations with the crown of England, often manipulating his friendship with the reigning kings of England to thwart the expansionist ambitions of the British Colonial Office.
However, by 1914, financial mismanagement and worries over the impending First World War caused the British to force an Advisor upon Johor. Sultan Ibrahim lost his political independence, though he compensated for it by building his private army, the Askar Timbalan Setia.
His love for "all things English" caused a rift with his chief executive or Menteri Besar Onn Jaafar, who was also his adopted son and president of the United Malays National Organisation or UMNO - a Malay nationalist movement. Sultan Ibrahim's quick and enthusiastic accession to the Malayan Union caused uproar amongst his subjects and led to seven dignitaries (in Malay the group was called Orang Tujuh) led by Dr. Awang Hassan to declare that by this act, the sultan had been automatically deposed in favour of his son.
Sultan Ibrahim quickly tried to restore his credibility by hosting UMNO's first general assembly at his palace in Johor Bahru in May 1946. He also joined a boycott of the installation ceremony of the first governor of the Malayan Union, Sir Edward Gent.
However, from time to time, Sultan Ibrahim voiced his concern over the demand for independence from the British. A speech delivered by the sultan, in which he exclaimed disbelief at the ability of Malayans to govern themselves, led to a walkout by UMNO President Tunku Abdul Rahman and other stalwarts.
The unpopularity of the sultan later led to him spending more time overseas, especially in Europe. He declined election as first Yang di-Pertuan Agong or king of independent Malaya and died in London on May 8, 1959. His eldest son succeeded him as Sultan Ismail.At the time of his death he was probably the longest reigning Malay sultan in Malaysian history after having ruled for 64 years.
Sultan Ibrahim married at least four official wives who became sultanahs of Johor. They were:
- Ungku Maimunah binti Ungku Abdul Majid (d. 1909)
- Che Rogayah (d 1926)
- Helen Bartholomew Wilson (d 1977)
- Marcella Mendel (d 1982)-fathered a daughter,Meriam,when he was already in his seventies- a remarkable feat!
In recent years, efforts have been made by the sultan's heirs to rehabilitate his image and paint him as a benevolent ruler. However, Sultan Ibrahim is largely remembered as an anti-independence figure, a wastrel and a close (almost deferential) ally of the British. The posthumous title of "the Great" (in Malay, mil Masyhur) conferred on him by his grandson Sultan Iskandar, never caught on.