ALOR SETAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah officially announced the passing of the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah today.
The Sultan was 89.
Bashah, who was overcome by grief, announced the Sultan’s passing in a special press conference at Wisma Darulaman just now.
Bashah, his voice breaking, announced that Sultan Abdul Halim died at 2.30pm at Istana Anak Bukit.
Bashah said the remains of Sultan Abdul Halim will be lie in state at the Balai Penghadapan Baru in Istana Anak Bukit at 10.30am tomorrow, followed by final prayers.
Members of the public may pay their last respects from 11am to 12.30pm, followed by the dignitaries from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Bashah said the body would then be taken to the royal mausoleum in Jalan Langgar at 2.30pm for the funeral at 4pm.
“Sultan Abdul Halim's body will brought along Lebuhraya Darulaman and Jalan Tun Razak before heading to the royal mausoleum in Jalan Langgar for the royal funeral at 4pm," he said.
Bashah also declared tomorrow a public holiday and announced a week-long mourning period for the whole of Kedah.
However, he said the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination, which started today, will continue as scheduled.
“All state and federal flags will be flown half-mast for three days. All entertainment and celebration events will be cancelled throughout the seven-day mourning period.
“Let us pray that the soul of Sultan Abdul Halim is placed among the righteous,” he said.
Tuanku Abdul Halim, who was installed as the Sultan of Kedah in 1958, is the eldest surviving son of Almarhum Sultan Badlishah Sultan Abdul Hamid.
Sultan Abdul Halim was born on Nov 28, 1927 at Istana Anak Bukit.
He made history as the first Sultan to become the Yang Di-pertuan Agong twice, in 1965 and in 2011.
Sultan Abdul Halim married Almarhum Sultanah Bahiyah Tuanku Abdul Rahman in 1956.
They have three daughters - Tan Sri Tunku Soraya Sultan Abdul Halim, Tunku Sarina Sultan Abdul Halim ,(April 30, 1960 - Aug 31, 1991) and Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim.
Sultanah Bahiyah passed away in 2003.
In 1975, Sultan Abdul Halim married a commoner, Sultanah Haminah Hamidun.
As the second wife of the sultan, she bore the title Che Puan Kedah and was elevated to the rank of Sultanah in Jan 2004, following the death of Sultanah Bahiyah.
Sultan Abdul Halim received his early education at Sekolah Melayu Titi Gajah and Sultan Abdul Hamid College before furthering his studies at Wadham College, Oxford and obtained a Diploma in Social Science and Public Administration.
Sultan Abdul Halim was appointed Raja Muda on Aug 1949 and acceded as the 27th Sultan of Kedah on his father's death on July 15, 1958.