TEARS FOR AYAHANDA
Thousands mourn, bid farewell to Sultan Ahmad Shah
ASOMBRE air hung over the royal town of Pekan yesterday as thousands filled the streets to bid farewell to former sultan of Pahang, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah Sultan Abu Bakar.
The Pekan Royal Mausoleum was filled with royalty, dignitaries, politicians as well as members of the public who paid their last respects to the former ruler.
Some were seen wiping away tears as the funeral rites were performed at the mausoleum, while others shared their memories about Sultan Ahmad Shah during his days as the state ruler.
Traffic outside the mosque came to a standstill as people parked their vehicles along the road shoulder and joined others inside its compound.
Many business premises here were closed for the day as the people mourned Sultan Ahmad Shah’s death.
Many braved the afternoon heat to join the funeral procession from Istana Abu Bakar, where members of the armed forces and police led the hearse in a 2.2km procession to the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque.
A grim Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is sultan of Pahang, accompanied his father’s remains in the hearse, while other members of the Pahang royal family followed closely behind.
Along the stretch, 88 cannon shots were fired, marking the ruler’s age, and were fired every
23m between the palace and the mosque.
After the solat jenazah (funeral prayers), pallbearers carried the coffin to the mausoleum where Sultan Ahmad Shah’s remains were laid to rest beside the grave of his first wife, Tengku Ampuan Afzan, who died in 1988.
Before the funeral ended at 5pm, Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman recited the talqin (funeral rites).
Present were Sultanah Kalsom (the consort of Sultan Ahmad Shah), Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Tengku Muda Pahang Tengku Abdul Rahman, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, as well as Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Earlier, Sultan Ahmad Shah’s remains were placed at Balairung Seri of Istana Abu Bakar, where the public, members of royal families, ministers and dignitaries were allowed to pay their last respects beginning Wednesday night until noon yesterday.
Clad in all-black attire, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, led a host of dignitaries, VVIPs and members of the royal families in paying their last respects to Sultan Ahmad Shah at the palace yesterday.
Dr Mahathir and his wife arrived at the palace at 11.05am. They were seen greeting those present at the hall.
Also present were Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Others included Council of Eminent Persons chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador, Berjaya Group founder and business tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Those present at Balairung Seri were moved when Sultan Abdullah, who returned from abroad yesterday morning, shed tears when he paid his last respects to his late father.
Sultan Ahmad Shah died at 8.50am on Wednesday at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. He was 88.
Sultan Ahmad Shah reigned as the fifth sultan of Pahang for almost 45 years before his eldest son, Sultan Abdullah, was announced as his successor on Jan 12.