Malaysia’s royalty on Friday chose Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor to be the country’s next king.

The 64-year-old sultan will be sworn in on January 31, 2024, after the incumbent king’s term expires.

The position of king is largely ceremonial, but the monarch oversees major appointments such as the prime minister and serves as the head of Islam in the Muslim-majority country and the commander-in-chief of its armed forces.

The Southeast Asian country is a parliamentary democracy, with the monarch serving as head of state.

Malaysia has a unique system of monarchy, with the throne changing hands every five years between rulers of the nine Malaysian states headed by centuries-old Islamic royalty. Sultan Ibrahim is the first sultan from the wealthy and powerful Johor royal family to become king in 39 years.

The sultan is a hands-on monarch and a fully trained army, navy, and air force officer who studied abroad in the United States. He also has a close relationship with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and often comments on Malaysian politics.

The role of the king in Malaysia is accorded considerable prestige, particularly among the country’s Malay Muslim majority. Criticism deemed to incite contempt of the king can attract a jail term.