Sultan Ibrahim of Johor (1873-1959)

Sultan Abu Bakar passed away in London, UK, on 4 June 1895 only months after the grand ball at Istana Tyersall. His body was shipped back to Johor where he was laid to rest at the royal mausoleum at Makam Mahmoodiah on 7 September 1895. The creator of Istana Tyersall, his Sultana Fatimah, had been buried there four years earlier in 1891. 

His son, Tunku Ibrahim was installed as the new Sultan of Johor in November 1895. Sultan Ibrahim’s reign was to span more than six decades, encompassing two world wars and a host of sensational and dramatic events. Palace of Ghosts dedicates five chapters to this transformative period, during which the Tyersall estate underwent significant changes that in many ways mirrored the sweeping geopolitical and social shifts in both Singapore and Johor. A frequently controversial figure, Sultan Ibrahim's life is a fascinating tale of immense wealth, power, heartbreak, and tragedy—recurring themes woven throughout the narrative of Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History.

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For our friends in Johor, and indeed the rest of Malaysia, he needs no introduction: his great-grandson currently sits on the throne as King of Malaysia. For others, who may not know, this post introduces the man who plays such a central role in Palace of Ghosts and who had a profound impact on the economic and potlical fortunes of Singapore, Johor and the wider region. With the greatest respect to his Highness, the current King of Malaysia, it was the Sultan Ibrahim, and before him his father Sultan Abu Bakar, who first brought Johor to the attention to the rest of the world at the turn of the 20th century.

Sultan Ibrahim as a young man (c.1900) (National Museum of Singapore)

The story, however, is by no means limited to Johor only. For those less familiar with the history, and who may be wondering what the Sultan of Johor has to do with Singapore and vice versa, you have to transport yourself back to a time when there was no such thing as being Singaporean, nor Malaysian. Or, if you are not in possession of a time machine, you could just read the book.

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The nation states of Singapore and Malaysia that we know today simply did not exist, nor did the other third of the zone (that covering Riau) that is now part of what we know as Indonesia. The inhabitants of the Southeast Asia peninsular, and the countless islands that spread out from its southeastern tip and, importantly at the time, those peoples who lived out their lives on the seas, and regardless of race nor creed, simply had no concept of today's geopolitics. Among others, the Orang Laut, Malays, Bugis, Iranun, Siamese, Chinese, Japanese, Arabs, Indians and, (rather late to the party), Europeans had lived at this international maritime crossroads for time immemorial. They simply all belonged to the same geographical sphere, and they had lived there for generations. Who came first, or last, was irrelevant.

A postcard from around 1900 showing Sultan Ibrahim in a Mercedes automobile. (National Museum of Singapore)

A postcard of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor riding at the head of the Johor Miliary Force on the occassion of the King's birthday parade in Singapore in the 1920s.

A portrait of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor from the 1930s.

A 1935 Johor postage stamp depicting Sultan Ibrahim of Johor with his Scottish wife Sultana Helen.

Portriat of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor taken in October 1945, just one month after the Japanese surrender in Malaya and Singapore.

A portrait of Sulthan Ibrahim of Johor taken later in life, probably in the early 1950s.

This collection of public domain images offers only a glimpse into the many layers of his complex personality and the pivotal events in which he played a leading role. His public and private lives became deeply intertwined with the political and economic transformations—and upheavals—of both Singapore and Johor. Once reputed to be the world’s wealthiest man, he enjoyed immense fame and popularity across Europe and Asia during the 1930s and 1940s. To uncover these fascinating stories and more, follow the link below for Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History.

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Coming up next, we get a taste—quite literally—of what it was like to meet Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. Our guide? An Australian journalist who spent an unforgettable day with the Sultan in the early 1920s. The adventure kicks off with a ravenous early lunch at none other than the Raffles Hotel on Beach Road, Singapore, and only gets more interesting from there.