By Jerry Choong
SHAH ALAM, Sept 13 — The Sultan of Selangor and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor have extended their deepest condolences to the British Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom, over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin said that Her Majesty would always be remembered with deep respect and affection as a sovereign who dedicated her life to the service of her people.
“Queen Elizabeth’s reign was characterised by a sense of duty, dedication and commitment to serving her countries and the Commonwealth. She stands admired and revered across the world as a figure of stability and of unity over a lifetime of enormous change,” said Their Royal Highnesses in a statement issued by the Selangor Royal Office on Facebook.
Noting the Queen had visited Malaysia thrice, namely in 1972, 1989 and 1998, the statement said during her first visit Queen Elizabeth attended a lunch with Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj at Istana Alam Shah in Klang.
“In 1989, as part of the 11th Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting, Her Majesty visited the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam and had high tea at Istana Alam Shah.
“His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin was also honoured to have been invited on to HMS Britannia for dinner, at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen, when it was berthed at Port Klang in 1972 and 1989,” said Their Royal Highnesses.
Sultan Sharafuddin commended Queen Elizabeth for her graciousness and willingness to engage in discussions aimed at continually improving bilateral relations with the people of Selangor and Malaysia.
“Once again, Their Royal Highnesses extend their heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty the Queen’s family and her people,” said the statement.
Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch, died on Thursday (September 8) at her summer residence of Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.
Her Majesty’s state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey on September 19.
