A screenshot of Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Abdullah (left) who died in London last night. ― Picture via Instagram/tunku_idris

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — The Sultan of Johor’s mother, Enche' Besar Hajah Khalsom Abdullah, 83, died in London yesterday.

Johor Council of the Royal Court president Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli said Hajah Khalsom breathed her last at 7.55 pm at the King Edward VII Hospital.

“It is with great sadness that Enche' Besar Hajah Khalsom Abdullah, the mother of Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, has departed this world and entered the Hereafter at 7.55 pm on Friday, June 1 or 16 Ramadan 1439 Hijrah at the King Edward VII Hospital in London,” he said when announcing the news at the Sultan Ibrahim Building in Bukit Timbalan here today.

Also present was Johor state secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani.

Abdul Rahim said the remains of the Hajah Khalsom would be placed at Bilik Singgahsana in Istana Besar here, where members of the public could pay their last respects according to the rules and time which would be announced later.

He also said the remains of Hajah Khalsom would be laid to rest at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in Bukit Mahmoodiah here on the date and time which would be announced later.

According to Abdul Rahim, the funeral ceremony would be a semi-state funeral.

The remains of Hajah Khalsom would be taken to the royal mausoleum from Istana Besar on a carriage and wheeled out by a 40-man troop from the Royal Johor Military Force, he said.

Abdul Rahim said the Sultan of Johor was now in a state of sadness over his mother's death.

Hajah Khalsom was born on December 2, 1935 and blessed with three princesses and a prince, namely Tunku Kamariah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Tunku Besar Zabedah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Sultan Ibrahim and Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, he added. ― Bernama