KUALA LUMPUR: Mourning for the late former Sarawak governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud has enveloped Masjid Negara as funeral prayers took place on Wednesday (Feb 21) morning.
Abdul Taib’s remains arrived at the main prayer hall of the national mosque at 10.20am.
A crowd of family members and dignitaries gathered inside, while the police and Armed Forces maintained a vigil on the mosque grounds and its surroundings.
ALSO READ: Former Sarawak governor Taib Mahmud passes away
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was among the dignitaries who came to pay their respects.
Abdul Taib passed away earlier Wednesday.
In a Facebook post, his daughter Datuk Hanifar Taib said the 87-year-old breathed his last at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur at 4.40am.
Two days of mourning for the late former Yang di-Pertua Negeri have been declared in Sarawak.
The state government announced that flags would be flown at half-mast on Wednesday and Thursday (Feb 22), and official functions involving entertainment would be postponed.
ALSO READ: Sarawak declares two days of mourning for Taib Mahmud
The state government also said a state funeral would be held for Abdul Taib at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex on Thursday.
The public can pay their last respects from 8am to 11.30am Thursday.
After that, Abdul Taib’s remains will be brought to Masjid Demak for prayers and laid to rest at the family burial ground of his private residence in Demak Jaya.
