ALOR STAR: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V is expected to lead the dignitaries in paying their last respect to A-marhum Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
The 15th King, who succeeded Sultan Abdul Halim after the late Sultan of Kedah completed his tenure as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a second time in December, is expected to arrive at Istana Anak Bukit by 11.20am.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is scheduled to represent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to pay respect to Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim, on behalf of the federal government.
The royal funeral process began at 8am today at Istana Anak Bukit here, with the 'bersiram' (bathe) followed by 'kafan'. This was followed with final prayers at Balai Penghadapan Baru.
Tuanku Abdul Halim’s body will lie in state at the hall for members of the public and dignitaries to pay their last respects from 11am to 1.30pm.
His body would then be taken to the royal mausoleum in Jalan Langgar at 2.30pm for the funeral at 4pm. The procession is expected to pass through Lebuhraya Darulaman and Jalan Tun Razak before it heads to the royal mausoleum in Jalan Langgar for the funeral at 4pm.
Tuanku Abdul Halim, 89, passed away at Istana Anak Bukit at 2.30pm yesterday.
He was born on Nov 28, 1927 at Istana Anak Bukit.
Tuanku Abdul Halim, who was installed as the Sultan of Kedah in 1958, is the oldest surviving son of Almarhum Sultan Badlishah Sultan Abdul Hamid.
He made history as the first Sultan to become the Yang Di-pertuan Agong twice, in 1970 and in 2011.