The Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who is to be proclaimed the 14th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on Tuesday, will be taken on a procession from Istana Anak Bukit to the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas for the flight to Kuala Lumpur on that day.

The event is scheduled to begin with the arrival of Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and the Sultanah of Kedah, Tuanku Haminah Hamidun, at the porch of the palace at 6.45 am, followed by the reciting of the “ doa ” (prayers), said principal assistant state secretary (corporate management) Mohd Rizal Mohd Radzi.  

“The nobat will then play ‘ Raja Berangkat ’ and, at 7am, the sultan and sultanah will leave the palace for the airport in a special open vehicle,” he said at a media briefing on the proclamation of the Sultan of Kedah as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He said Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Tuanku Haminah would be taken on the procession for 5.3km and about 50,000 people are expected to line the streets from the palace to the airport.

“We ask the people of Kedah to jointly send off Tuanku Sultan and Tuanku Sultanah to the airport. I hope the people can gather at the roadside along the way as early as 6am because the route from the palace to the airport will be closed at 6.30am,” he said.

He also said that at four bus stops along the way, silat shows would be performed for the benefit of the public.

“At the airport, Tuanku Sultan will inspect a guard-of-honour before Tuanku Sultan and Tuanku Sultanah boarding a special aircraft at 8.10am,” he said.

Mohd Rizal said the airport would be closed to the public for an hour from 7.30am.

He also said that a council of regency would be appointed at the Istana Anak Bukit on Monday.

- Bernama