Sultan Azlan Shah dies
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah passed away this afternoon at the National Heart Institute.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The Sultan of Perak, Tuanku Raja Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, passed away peacefully today at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir made a televised announcement at about 3.45pm today
Earlier, speaking on condition of anonymity, a high ranking source from the Health Ministry said that Raja Azlan, 87, had died of natural causes.
“The Sultan passed away at 2.10pm,” said the official.
A high ranking official from Perak said the state government would meet to decide on the funeral plans.
The official would not disclose specifics about the sultan’s illness, saying only that he had been ill for “quite some time”.
Zambry meanwhile said the late sultan would be laid to rest at the royal mausoleum in Kuala Kangsar tomorrow after the ‘Asar’ prayers in the late afternoon.
The lying-in-state of the remains of Sultan Azlan Shah, who had reigned Perak for three decades from Feb 3, 1984, would be held at the Balairong Seri (Throne Room) of the Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar.
State dignitaries and VIPs would pay their last respects from 9 am tomorrow while the public would be allowed to do so between 11am and 2pm.
The rulers and national leaders would pay their last respects between 2pm and 3pm.
Zambry said the Perak flag would be flown at half mast during the 100 days of mourning beginningtoday while the Malaysian flag would be flown at half mast for seven days.
“During the first seven days of the mourning period, all forms of entertainment, festivity and celebration are cancelled,” he announced. Zambry also announced a state holiday for Perak tomorrow.
The remains of Sultan Azlan were seen leaving the National Heart Institute (IJN), here late this afternoon in a hearse.
Vehicles carrying the Perak Royal family and police escorting the hearse were seen leaving the IJN grounds at 5.08pm.
Earlier, the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Bainun, and the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah were seen at the IJN.
The late sultan was born on April 19, 1928. He received his early education at the Government English School before furthering his studies at the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar.
He later obtained his law degree at the University of Nottingham before being admitted to the Bar in 1954.
In November 1982, he became Lord President of the Malaysian Federal Court. He quit the when he ascended the Perak throne in 1984.
