Sultan Ahmad Shah laid to rest

PEKAN: The late Pahang’s Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah (pic) has been laid to rest at the Pekan Royal Mausoleum.

The former state Ruler was laid to rest next to the grave of his first wife Tengku Ampuan Afzan Tengku Muhammad.

The rites, which were steeped in tradition, was witnessed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is Sultan Ahmad Shah’s eldest son, as well as other members of the Pahang royal family.

His remains were brought to the mausoleum at about 4pm yesterday from the nearby Sultan Ahmad Shah mosque, where the last rites were performed.

Earlier, the body was transported from Istana Abu Bakar in a van to the mosque after the Zohor prayers.

To mark the age of Sultan Ahmad Shah, cannons were fired 88 times as the coffin was being transported.

Members of the public braved the afternoon heat as they lined up the streets to witness the final procession of their beloved Tuanku.

In the morning, thousands of people from all walks of life paid their last respects to Sultan Ahmad Shah at the palace, which opened its doors to the public since Wednesday.

The state government had declared a state holiday yesterday to enable the people to mourn Sultan Ahmad Shah’s passing.

Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was among the foreign dignitaries at the ceremony.

Other Rulers including Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and Kedah’s Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, also came to pay their last respects.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali arrived at the palace at 11am.

Others included Multimedia and Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, as well as former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

The Pahang state football team, led by head coach Dollah Salleh, also came to pay their last respects to Sultan Ahmad Shah, who was an icon in the football arena.

Sultan Ahmad Shah was the longest serving president of the Football Association of Malaysia and president of the Asian Football Confederation from 1994 to 2002.

Pahang will observe a 40-day mourning period and fly the state flag at half-mast as a mark of respect.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/24/sultan-ahmad-shah-laid-to-rest/#JUY2yLAR7IykpeLC.99