PM recalls special connection with late Kedah Sultan

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Monetary Policy Statement at 1500 (0700 GMT) KUALA LUMPUR- Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi meets security company officials, at Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) at 1445 (0645 GMT) KUALA LUMPUR- Prime Minister Najib Razak(pic) visits construction site of academic building and hostel at Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih, Lorong Haji Hussein 2, off Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz at 1530 (0730 GMT)

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the late Kedah Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah had a special connection with him and his own father.  

Speaking at a press conference upon reaching Washington, DC in the US, the Prime Minister conveyed his condolences to the family of Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim who passed away at 2.30pm on Monday.  

Najib recalled what the late Sultan, who had been Yang di-Pertuan Agong twice, had told him.  

"What he said, that was special, was firstly, he became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when my father became the prime minister and the second time, I became Prime Minister.  

"According to him, it is unlikely that this will happen again in Malaysia's history," said Najib.  

Najib added that Tuanku Abdul Halim had first become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during a time when Malaysia was undergoing a "process of democratic recovery" following the May 13 tragedy and the economy was beginning to blossom under the New Economic Policy.  

"In his second term, he witnessed the characteristics of a modern, dynamic and progressive Malaysia.  

"Because of that, his role as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be recorded in Malaysian history as a ruling period that was special and will be remembered," said Najib.  

Najib arrived in the US on Monday for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Sept 12 at the White House.  

The meeting, at the invitation of Trump, marks the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties between Malaysia and the United States.