In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a bendahara.
The sultan has his own independent military force, the Royal Johor Military Force (Malay: Askar Timbalan Setia Negeri Johor).
Abdul Jalil Shah IV had been a bendahara before the death of Mahmud II.
[2][3] His father, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, managed to consolidate enough power to marginalize Sultan Ali who died in 1877.
The funeral was held on 23 January after the proclamation of Sultan Ibrahim Ismail.