KUALA LUMPUR: Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has given his consent for the personal flag of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be flown at half-mast at Istana Negara for five consecutive days starting today.
Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, in a statement, said this was to signify His Majesty's mourning over the passing of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday.
Ahmad Fadil said Al-Sultan Abdullah also ordered the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia to hold Yasin and tahlil recitation ceremonies at mosques in the federal territories for three days beginning today.
"His Majesty also called on his subjects to pray for Sheikh Khalifa's soul to be blessed by Allah SWT and placed among the righteous and those who do good deeds," he said.
According to Ahmad Fadil, Al-Sultan Abdullah had contacted Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan by phone yesterday to personally convey his condolences to him and his family.
Al-Sultan Abdullah and Sheikh Mohamed became friends at the Royal Sandhurst Military Academy in 1978 and 1979 and the close friendship between the two leaders has remained to this day.
Apart from that, Malaysia and UAE also have close and friendly bilateral relations at various levels, including between the leaders of the two countries and their fellow citizens.
Ahmad Fadil said His Majesty has agreed to leave for Abu Dhabi tomorrow to join other heads of state to pay their last respects to Sheikh Khalifa.
The ceremony for paying last respects to Sheikh Khalifa is scheduled to be held for three days from today until May 16.
Meanwhile, the Pahang state flag will also be flown at half-mast at all state and federal government premises for five days, beginning today.
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the UAE had assisted Pahang in terms of humanity and the people's welfare, thus the passing of Sheikh Khalifa is deeply felt.
"On behalf of the Pahang government, I wish to express my condolences and pray for the soul of the deceased be blessed and placed with the faithful and pious," he said in a statement posted on his official Facebook account.
Sheikh Khalifa, who had ruled the UAE since 2004, died aged 73, after a long illness. - BERNAMA