ALOR STAR: Members of the public are paying their last respects to the late Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at Istana Anak Bukit here since 10.30am.
The Sultan’s body is lying in state at Balai Penghadapan Baru following the funeral rites led by Kedah mufti Datuk Syeikh Fadhil Awang.
Hundreds of people joined the funeral rites, which were also led by Masjid Zahir senior imam Datuk Syeikh Roslan Abdul Halim Al-Hafiz.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V is expected to lead the dignitaries to pay their last respect to Almarhum Sultan Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
The 15th King, who succeeded Sultan Abdul Halim after the latter completed his tenure as the 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 his last respects to Sultan Abdul Halim on behalf of the federal government.
Sultan Abdul Halim passed away at 2.30pm yesterday at the palace.
Sultan Abdul Halim’s body will 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 was 89 years old when he 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 1959 and in 2011.