Monarchies have played a significant administrative, cultural, and religious role in the region’s history and in its modern societies. Image Source: The ASEAN Post

From Malaysia’s rotating kingship to Brunei’s absolute monarchy, sultans continue to shape their countries in contemporary ways. Their relevance lies not in ancient privilege, but in the ability to act as cultural stewards, national stabilizers, and philanthropic organizations.

The recent revivalist claims and lawsuit against Malaysia of the purported Sulu heirs have also placed the name of the Sultanate of Sulu in the headlines of monarchy in Southeast Asia.

Yet differences in institutional priorities are worth observing as the claimed heirs seek to equate their modern legitimacy with those of other regional monarchies through an arbitration campaign focused on private financial compensation.

Brunei and Indonesia

A prime example of a sultanate with executive powers is Brunei, one of the only remaining absolute monarchies in the world. In fact, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's authority extends across all aspects of religion and government. Significantly, his government’s policies have reinvested Brunei’s large oil and natural gas reserves into free education, healthcare, and housing schemes.

Today, Brunei has the second highest GDP per capita in SouthEast Asia, second only to Singapore. These actions reinforce Brunei’s model: an absolute monarchy that sustains its legitimacy through tangible social investment.

To Brunei’s south, Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, also hosts a number of sultanate institutions within its republic.

The Yogyakarta Sultanate in particular occupies a unique and notable position. Since the 1950s, the Sultan has served as the hereditary governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, a position retained within the Indonesian republic due to the sultanate’s role in resisting the Dutch colonial government. More recently in 2010, proposals in Jakarta to replace this system with an elected governor were met with widespread protests in Yogyakarta.

Since the 1950s, the Sultan has served as the hereditary governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Today, the sultanate continues to oversee UNESCO protected sites, steer cultural heritage restoration (such as the Kraton palace), and promote infrastructure projects like the expansion of Yogyakarta International Airport.

The current sultan, Hamengkubuwono X, has emerged as a modern and religiously moderate influence, advocating for scientific advice, transparency of court practices, and also business investments in Yogyakarta—though not without controversy. Indeed, he is at the center of a brewing succession dispute having named his eldest daughter as his heir. Within this choice we also see the sultanate’s perspective on its future, with a number of previously male dominated roles now filled by women.

Indonesia is also home to surviving sultanates without governing powers like the Ternate and Tidore in North Maluku and Pontianak in Kalimantan. These institutions still engage in ceremonial rituals, cultural representation, and as a voice for regional conflict resolution.

Constitutional Monarchy in Practice: Malaysia

At the receiving end of the Sulu claimants’ lawsuit, Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy that rotates its throne. The Yang di Pertuan Agong—elected every five years from one of nine hereditary sultans—functions not only as a symbol of Malay and Islamic continuity, but also as a constitutional safeguard during political volatility.

During the 2020–2022 crisis, this power became highly visible, as the monarch appointed prime ministers following coalition breakdowns and invoked emergency powers amid the pandemic.

The Sultan of Johor and current King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, has used his platform to advocate for reform and infrastructure investment. He has actively supported the revival of the KL–Singapore high-speed rail and the establishment of an economic zone in southern Malaysia.

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has used his platform to advocate for reform and infrastructure investment.

Royal philanthropy also remains substantial. During the COVID 19 pandemic, Johor’s royal family donated over RM 123 million—providing food baskets, medical supplies, affordable housing, and direct aid to over 1.6 million Malaysians.

The Sultanate of Sulu today: A Defunct Monarchy

Looking to the Sultanate of Sulu, there is no doubt it holds an important place in Southeast Asia’s history and in the history of the Philippines. Yet today it stands apart from other regional monarchies—not only by its lack of political authority, but also by its limited institutional and civic engagement.

Although multiple individuals claim descent from the Sulu line, there is no unified palace, custodial foundation, or culturally recognized institution in the Philippines. Likewise, there is no formal role in religious councils, no state-endorsed museums, and no active participation in regional development programs.

Although multiple individuals claim descent from the Sulu line, there is no unified palace, custodial foundation, or culturally recognized institution in the Philippines.

There is also no consensus on whether the claimants to the Sulu line are in fact legitimate successors to the last sultan recognized by the Philippines, Sultan Mohammad Mahakuttah A. Kiram, who passed in 1986. Currently, there are multiple claimants that dispute the defunct title of Sultan of Sulu.

This lack of coherence contrasts to the structured civic influence and community roles maintained by other monarchies, and challenges its institutional relevance.

Indeed, the claimants’ recent attention has focused not on the restoration of the institution, but on an international legal strategy to seek compensation under an 1878 agreement with the North Borneo Company. The arbitration, lodged in Spain and later France to seize Malaysia’s assets, yielded a US$14.9 billion award that was ultimately rejected by multiple courts across Europe.

The claimants’ recent attention has focused not on the restoration of the institution, but on an international legal strategy to seek compensation under an 1878 agreement with the North Borneo Company.

Although the purported heirs have floated ideas on channeling proceeds into Sabah and into Sulu, one of the Philippines’ poorest provinces, concrete plans and commitments have thus far taken a backseat to the claimants’ private entitlements.

With Filipino public opinion divided on the Sulu claimants’ cause, it seems likely the Sulu Sultanate’s future—and legitimacy—will be tested not in European arbitral courts but in the communities of Sulu.

REFERENCES

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VOI Editorial Team. (2025, May 22). Sultan HB X asks Kulon Progo to carefully choose investors in Aeropolis YIA. VOI. https://voi.id/