ALOR STAR: The late Sultan of Kedah, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, was laid to rest at the royal mausoleum in a ceremony steeped in royal tradition this evening.
The body of Sultan Abdul Halim, 89, was laid to rest next to the grave of his first wife, Almarhumah Sultanah Bahiyah, at the royal mausoleum in Jalan Langgar.
The ceremony was witnessed by Sultanah Haminah Hamidun, and the Sultan’s younger brother Tunku Salehuddin Sultan Badlishah, who was named his successor, and wife Tengku Maliha Tengku Ariff as well as members of Kedah royalty.
Sultan Abdul Halim’s daughter, Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz, was seated behind Tunku Salehuddin.
Also present were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Minister at the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, and Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharom.
The late Sultan's coffin, carried on a royal chariot, arrived at the royal mausoleum at 4pm.
The funeral ceremony began at 4.28pm, with his coffin lowered into the grave by members of the Armed Forces.
The reading of the ‘talqin’ was led by Kedah Mufti Datuk Syeikh Fadzil Awang.
Tunku Salehuddin led the royal families to pay their last respects to Sultan Abdul Halim by pouring scented water and spreading flowers on the late Sultan's grave, followed by Tengku Maliha and Tuanku Haminah.
Earlier, the coffin carrying the late Sultan, placed on a special chariot, made an 11km journey from Istana Anak Bukit, accompanied by a second chariot ferrying 13 ‘ulama’.
The chariots were led by a group of 55 men carrying the Kedah royal symbol. It left the palace at 2.30pm.
The cannons were fired 89 times as the coffin was brought out from the palace to make its way to the royal mausoleum.
Members of the public were also at the cemetery after paying their final respects at the palace earlier in the morning.
Others, who had missed the opportunity to pay their respects to the late Sultan at the palace, braved the afternoon heat for hours at the mausoleum after Zohor prayers to attend the funeral.
The funeral ceremony ended at 6.15pm.