BY GABRIEL LIHAN & FASIHA KHUSHIRI
KUCHING: Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid his final respects to former head of state Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today.
Accompanying His Majesty was his son Pengiran Muda Abdul Mateen Bolkiah who arrived at the Demak Mosque for Zohor prayers at 12.50 pm.
Hassanal Bolkiah and Abdul Mateen were welcomed by Head of State Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Among those present at the Demak Mosque were Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Minister of Telecommunication and Utility Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain.
Despite the heavy downpour, joining the VIPs were thousands of mourners, including army officers, government officials and members of the public who participated in Zohor prayers.
Earlier this morning, Hassanal Bolkiah and Abdul Mateen arrived at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) at 10.53 am in a private airplane.
Their Majesties were greeted by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
Hassanal Bolkiah and Abdul Mateen also attended the funeral rites at Taib’s family cemetery in Demak Jaya.
