The sultan of Johor’s mother, Enche' Besar Hajah Khalsom Abdullah, 83, died in London yesterday.

Johor Council of the Royal Court president Abdul Rahim Ramli said 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 Sultan Iskandar, has departed this world and entered the hereafter at 7.55pm 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 Johor Bahru today.

Also present was Johor state secretary Azmi Rohani.

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

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

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

The remains of Khalsom will 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 Johor sultan was now in a state of sadness over his mother's death.

Khalsom was born on Dec 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.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail conveyed her condolences to the Johor Royal family in a statement.

"Al-Fatihah. May Allah SWT bless her soul and place her among the souls of Islamic scholars (aulia), martyrs and religious persons (solihin),” she said.

Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian and Johor DAP also expressed their condolences on the passing.

“Johor DAP with full sadness and regret wish to convey our condolences to the sultan and the Johor royal family,” said its chief Liew Chin Tong in a statement.