Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, in a statement, said this was to signify the King’s mourning over the passing of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) president and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, yesterday.

Fadil said Sultan Abdullah also ordered the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council and the Islamic development department to hold yasin and tahlil recitation ceremonies at mosques in the federal territories for three days beginning today.

“The King has also called on his subjects to pray for Sheikh Khalifa’s soul to be blessed by Allah SWT and placed among the righteous and those who do good deeds,” he said.

According to Fadil, Sultan Abdullah had contacted Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan by phone yesterday to personally convey his condolences to him and his family.

Sultan Abdullah and Sheikh Mohamed became friends at the Royal Sandhurst Military Academy in 1978 and 1979 and the close friendship between the two leaders has remained to this day.

Apart from that, Malaysia and the UAE also have close and friendly bilateral relations at various levels, including between the leaders of the two countries and their fellow citizens.

Fadil said the King will leave for Abu Dhabi tomorrow to join other heads of state to pay their last respects to Sheikh Khalifa.

The ceremony for paying last respects to Sheikh Khalifa is scheduled to be held for three days from today until Monday.

In Kuantan, the Pahang state flag will be flown at half-mast at all state and federal government premises for five days, beginning today, as a mark of respect and a sign of mourning.

Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the UAE had assisted Pahang a lot in terms of the people’s welfare and thus the passing of Sheikh Khalifa was deeply felt.

Sheikh Khalifa, who had ruled the UAE since 2004, died aged 73, after a long illness.