PEKAN: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali led a host of dignitaries, VVIP’s and members of royalty to pay their last respects to former Sultan of Pahang, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah at Istana Abu Bakar here today.
They arrived at the palace about 11am before entering the Balairung Seri where the former ruler's remains were kept.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng were among the cabinet ministers who were present.
Others present to pay their last respect included Council of Eminent Persons chairman Tun Daim Zainudin, Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador, Berjaya Group founder and business tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Meanwhile, the Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah were among the royal family members present.
Members of royal families, ministers and dignitaries were allowed to pay their last respects starting 11am today.
Sultan Ahmad Shah passed at 8.50am yesterday at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. He was 88.
The remains of the former Pahang ruler will be taken to Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah for the funeral prayers before burial after the Zohor prayers at the Royal Mausoleum in Pekan.
The Pahang Government has declared a state holiday today to allow the people to pay their last respects to the late Sultan.
A 40-day mourning period for the public has been declared while it would be 100 days for the royal family.
The Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah also ordered all the flags in the state to be flown half-mast until completion of Sultan Ahmad Shah's burial ceremony tomorrow.
Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar also announced that the Malaysian flag should be flown half-mast from today till tomorrow to honour the death of the former King.