Who was elected as the new King of Malaysia in early 2019 under the rotational monarchy system?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from current affairs and political geography, focusing on the monarchy of Malaysia. Malaysia has a unique rotational monarchy system in which the position of Yang di Pertuan Agong, commonly referred to as the King, rotates among the rulers of the nine Malay states. In 2019, there was international news about the election of a new King following an abdication. The question asks you to identify the name of that new King.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The country is Malaysia, which has a constitutional monarchy with a rotating King.
• The time frame is early 2019.
• The options include Ibrahim Ismail, Nazrin Shah, Sultan Abdullah, and Ahmad Shah.
• We assume readers are aware of the major monarchy related news from that period.

Concept / Approach:
In January 2019, Malaysia elected Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang as the new King (Yang di Pertuan Agong) for a five year term, following the abdication of the previous monarch. This was widely covered in international media due to the unusual abdication and the rotational nature of the Malaysian monarchy. The other names listed are prominent royal figures but were not the rulers chosen as the Malaysian King at that time.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall news reports about Malaysia electing a new King after the former King stepped down in early 2019. Step 2: Remember that the ruler chosen was Sultan Abdullah from the state of Pahang. Step 3: Examine the options. Ibrahim Ismail is associated with the Johor royal family, Nazrin Shah is linked with Perak, and Ahmad Shah refers to another member of the Pahang royalty, but not the King elected in that year. Step 4: Since the name Sultan Abdullah matches the identity of the new King in 2019, select Sultan Abdullah. Step 5: Confirm that this aligns with the known rotational monarchy structure, where different state rulers take turns as King.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by recalling ceremonial coverage of the oath and installation, which frequently referred to Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as the new King of Malaysia. International articles often explained that he was the ruler of Pahang and was chosen by the Conference of Rulers under the Malaysian constitution. None of the other options were mentioned as the new King in these reports, which confirms the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Ibrahim Ismail, is a royal figure from Johor and not the King elected as Yang di Pertuan Agong in 2019. Option B, Nazrin Shah, is the Sultan of Perak and has held other senior roles but was not the King at that time. Option D, Ahmad Shah, refers to a former Sultan of Pahang and is part of the royal lineage, but the specific monarch chosen in 2019 was Sultan Abdullah, his successor. Therefore, these options do not match the event described in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
A common difficulty with Malaysian monarchy questions is that several royals share similar names and titles, which can confuse learners who do not follow the details closely. Another pitfall is to mix up the names of state sultans with the title of King, forgetting that the Kingship rotates and that past and present holders can have related names. To avoid mistakes, it helps to link each major political event with a simple phrase, such as Sultan Abdullah elected as King of Malaysia in 2019.

Final Answer:
The new King of Malaysia elected in early 2019 was Sultan Abdullah.