Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum. Source: Wikimedia
Johor prince Tunku Abdul Jalil was laid to rest at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, after he lost his fight with cancer.
He was interred on the right side of the tomb of his paternal grandfather, Sultan Iskandar Ismail, who died in 2010.
Tunku Abdul Jalil, 25, who had the title Tunku Laksamana, was the fourth of six children in the royal family.
Crown prince, Tunku Ismail, paid tribute to his brother online, pledging that he would never be forgotten. “Your name will be carried by my bloodline,” Tunku Ismail said.
The Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, and his wife paid their respects.
Prayers were performed at Istana Besar and he was laid to rest after Zohor prayers. The coffin bearing the prince’s remains were pulled by 30 members of the Johor military.
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Minister for Law K Shanmugam were due to attend the ceremony, announced the neighbouring city-state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
Teo and Shanmugam would be at Istana Besar in Johor Bahru, said the MFA.
An official letter of condolence were sent to Ismail from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Lee wrote: “Ho Ching and I are deeply saddened by the passing of your beloved son. We convey our heartfelt condolences to you, Raja Zarith and your family.
“Tunku Jalil was well loved for his compassion, his charitable work for the Johor community and the police, and his passion for the environment and animals. I recall him telling us about his work with the Singapore Zoo, and his walks in our Botanic Gardens.
“He will always be remembered fondly as a young, humble prince who so readily loved and served his people. Our thoughts are with you and Raja Zarith and the people of Johor during this difficult period of grief.”
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore foreign minister, added that Tunku Jalil was “devoted and generous in his support of the arts, music, sports and the environment”.
“His care and concern towards the less fortunate also touched the hearts of all Johoreans. He will be missed dearly,” Balakrishnan said. “My thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with you and your family and the people of Johor in this period of bereavement.”