IPOH: The Perak flag will be flown at half mast today as a tribute to the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
In his royal address when opening the state assembly sitting here on Tuesday (April 15), Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah said it was a mark of mourning and respect from the people and the state.
"Together with Raja Permaisuri (Perak Tuanku Zara Salim), this House, and all the people of the state of Perak, we extend our deepest condolences to Tun Jeanne Abdullah and the family of the late Abdullah.
"May Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant his soul eternal peace and place him among the righteous," he said when opening the first meeting of the third year of the 15th Perak State Legislative Assembly at the state secretariat building.
Abdullah, Malaysia’s fifth prime minister, passed away at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 7.10pm on Monday (April 14). He was 85.
He will be accorded a state funeral, with the burial to be held at the Heroes’ Mausoleum, National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
Sultan Nazrin also paid tribute to the late Ayer Kuning assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin, leading the members of the state assembly in extending condolences to his family and observing a moment of silence.
Sultan Nazrin said Ishsam's passing was a profound loss to the state, his constituency, the state assembly, the sporting fraternity and also to his widow Rozlita Abdullah and their two children, Isnabil and Iszul Imadi.
"He was widely recognised for his distinguished career as a footballer, representing Perak for 12 years from 1984 to 1990 and from 1992 to 1997, while also having played in Negri Sembilan in 1991.
"He was also part of the Harimau Malaya national squad at the King's Cup in Bangkok in 1987.
"Beyond the field, Ishsam remained actively engaged in voluntary service through various civic organisations," he added.
Ishsam, who was with Umno, passed away after collapsing during a friendly football match in George Town, Penang on Feb 22.
The by-election for the state seat will be held on April 26, with early voting on April 22.
Barisan Nasional's Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir will vie for the seat against Perikatan Nasional's Abd Muhaimin Malek and KS Bawani of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
In GE15 in 2022, Ishsam polled 9,088 votes and won by a 2,213 majority, defeating Amanah's Mohd Nazri Hashim, Muhammad Noor Farid of PAS, Pejuang's Maziah Salim, and Bawani.
