KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim paid his last respects to the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the National Mosque here today.
Anwar arrived at the main prayer hall of the National Mosque at about 1 pm accompanied by several ministers.
Among the ministers accompanying the Prime Minister were Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu; Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir; Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Minister of Digital Gobind Singh Deo; and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
Anwar then spent a few minutes meeting Tun Abdullah's family members.
Tun Abdullah's wife, Tun Jeanne Abdullah, his daughter Nori Abdullah and her husband Khairy Jamaluddin were among the family members who were by the late Tun Abdullah's body throughout the last rites.
Also paying their last respects were Deputy Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusoff.
Ahmad Zahid and Fadillah were welcomed by Kamaluddin Abdullah, the son of the late Tun Abdullah.
Tun Abdullah, 85, breathed his last at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 7.10 pm last night and IJN in a statement said the statesman was admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning after experiencing breathing difficulty.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Anwar paid tribute to the late statesman, describing him as a towering figure who led the nation with unwavering sincerity and wisdom, and a deep commitment to noble values.
He said that the late Tun Abdullah's immense contributions and service to the nation would continue to be cherished and remembered by all Malaysians.
“Once again, to Tun Jeanne, his children Kamaluddin, Nori, Khairy, and the entire family, Azizah and I extend our deepest condolences on this profound loss.
“May his soul be placed among the righteous, and be granted the eternal rewards of paradise for the good he has done throughout his life,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was also present to pay his final respects, noted the remarkable outpouring of love and unity as thousands of Malaysians - regardless of status, race or political belief - gathered to honour the late statesman.
“We all loved Pak Lah. His passing is indeed a great loss to the nation. Yet we find comfort in knowing that such a good soul has returned peacefully to his Creator.
“May Allah SWT bestow His mercy upon his soul, and place him among the righteous,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
-- BERNAMA
