Sultan of Kedah passes away
ALOR SETAR: The Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, passed away at 2.30pm yesterday at Istana Anak Bukit here. His Royal Highness was 89. Sultan Abdul Halim had ruled Kedah for 59 years.
The announcement on the sultan’s passing was made by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah at a press conference at Wisma Darul Aman here.
The Royal Committee on the Funeral Ceremony, at a meeting, decided that the lying- in- state would be held at the Dewan Penghadapan at Istana Anak Bukit today to enable the people to pay their last respects from 11 am to 12.30pm.
Ahmad Bashah said dignitaries would pay their last respects between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
He said the cortege would proceed a long L ebuhraya Darulaman, Jalan Tun Razak, Lebuhraya Sultanah Bahiyah and Jalan Langgar t o the Langgar Royal Mausoleum for the burial scheduled for 4pm.
Ahmad Bashah said state, national and other f lags would have to be flown at half-mast for three days starting yesterday and that the period of mourning would be seven days.
“During that period, there is a prohibition on all forms of entertainment, gatherings and festivities,” he said.
The Menter i B esa r a l so announced a public holiday for Kedah today, but said that the Primary School Assessment Test ( UPSR) would proceed as scheduled. Sultan Abdul Halim created history by reigning as the Yang di- Pertuan Agong twice, from 1970 to 1975 and from 2011 to 2016.
Ahmad Bashah conveyed the condolences of the state government to the royal family and prayed for the sultan’s soul to be blessed by the Almighty. — Bernama
ALOR SETAR: The nation yesterday mourned the demise of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah who had ruled as the Sultan of Kedah for 59 years and twice reigned as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
During his rule, Sultan Abdul Halim endeared himself to the people in his unique gentle way that had won him the love and respect of the people, not only in Kedah but also throughout the country.
Sultan Abdul Halim married Tuanku Bahiyah Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman and they were blessed with three daughters, namely Tengku Soraya, Tengku Sarina and Tengku Intan Safinaz. He also married Sultanah Haminah Hamidun, who was proclaimed as the Sultanah of Kedah on Jan 9, 2004, following the demise of Tuanku Bahiyah on Aug 27, 2003.
He had a mini zoo where he bred various kinds of birds and animals, among them horses, deer, crocodiles, monkeys and rabbits.
Despite keeping to a busy schedule, His Royal Highness found time for his favourite pastime – golf, and watched football matches and played a role in the development of the Kedah and national football teams. — Bernama