Agong despises tardiness

Datuk R. Sugumaran, the police aide-de-camp (ADC) to the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, revealed that Yang di-Pertua Agong Sultan Ibrahim dislikes keeping people waiting for his arrival.

“In my 20-odd years as Sultan Ibrahim’s ADC, I have never seen His Majesty arriving late, but instead always being five or 10 minutes early,” he said, reported Bernama.

“His Majesty doesn’t like to get angry and is quick to show compassion. If someone did something wrong and we asked His Majesty to give the person another chance, the Sultan’s response would always be, ‘Okay Sugu (Sugumaran), you do what you think is right’,” he said, reported Bernama.

Sugumaran also said that another endearing trait of Sultan Ibrahim is he enjoys engaging with people and listens attentively to their concerns.

“Those who spread falsehoods or fake news to sow discord, especially in Johor, including politicians, will be summoned to the palace to be reprimanded so that the issue doesn’t escalate and can be contained early,” he said.

Sugumaran, who joined the Royal Malaysia Police as a constable in 1978, recalled his first encounter with His Majesty during his tenure as the Johor Bahru Sentral OCPD in 2003.

Hailing from Bestari Jaya, Selangor, Sugumaran, son of a rubber tapper, recounted that his experience as an Air Quartermaster with the Police Air Wing Unit and his Half Wing badge drew Sultan Ibrahim’s interest, especially due to their shared passion for flying.

“My first assignment as the ADC to the then Crown Prince was during the installation ceremony of the Sultan of Selangor (Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah), followed by the Conference of Rulers meeting.

“Back then, the Crown Prince was representing his father the Sultan of Johor (the late Sultan Iskandar Almarhum Sultan Ismail), and that was the beginning of my career as his police ADC,” he said.

Sultan Ibrahim was sworn in and signed the instrument of office as the 17th King of Malaysia on January 31. The installation ceremony is set to take place on July 20.