Ninth Sabah TYT Tun Ahmadshah laid to rest

KOTA KINABALU (May 21): Sabah’s ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah, who died on Tuesday night aged 78, was laid to rest at the Kampung Inanam Laut Muslim Cemetery, here, at 2.30 pm on Wednesday.

Prior to the funeral, the final tribute ceremony for the former Head of State was held in a solemn and respectful atmosphere at the State Mosque.

The late Tun’s remains were brought from the family residence in Taman Likas Jaya at around 10 am and were received by family members, close friends, state leaders, and members of the public who came to pay their last respects.

The funeral prayer (solat jenazah) was led by the State Mufti, SS Datuk Bungsu @ Aziz Haji Jaafar after the Zohor prayer, before the remains were taken to the Kampung Inanam Laut Muslim Cemetery for burial.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor was also present to pay his final respects and extend condolences to the late Tun’s family.

Also in attendance were Sabah’s 10th Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin; State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Panglima Kadzim Haji M. Yahya; Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya; State Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif; State Minister of Rural Development Datuk Jahid Jahim; State Secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Safar Untong; and other dignitaries.

Ahmadshah passed away at a private hospital here at 8.45 pm on Tuesday. His passing was confirmed by Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong in a statement.

As a mark of respect, the State Government declared an official one-day mourning period, during which the state flag was flown at half-mast.

The Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman, said Tun Ahmadshah carried out his duties and responsibilities as the ninth Yang Dipertua Negeri and a civil servant with excellence and dedication.

He said during his lifetime, Ahmadshah was known as a sincere, honest and kind individual with a friendly nature who was well-liked by all.

Tun Musa, who visited Ahmadshah’s remains at the hospital on Tuesday night, also expressed his condolences to the family and prayed that his soul would be blessed and placed among the righteous.

“His service and sacrifices for the state of Sabah will always be remembered by all levels of society here,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Hajiji earlier expressed his condolences to the family of Ahmadshah.

“On behalf of the State Government, I extend my condolences to the family of the former Head of State of Sabah, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmadshah bin Abdullah.

“The State Government expresses its highest appreciation for Tun’s dedicated service to the State and its people. He was known as an exemplary leader who was well-loved by all levels of society during his lifetime.

“Personally, I have lost a dear friend of noble character and someone who deeply cared for the people and his state. May Allah SWT shower His mercy upon the soul of the deceased,” Hajiji said in a statement.

Tun Ahmadshah was born on December 9, 1946, and served as the Head of State of Sabah from 2003 to 2010.

Before that, he held the position of Deputy State Secretary before retiring in December 2002. The late Ahmadshah also held other positions, including Director of the Sabah State Public Services Commission, Chief (Internal Affairs and Research Division) of the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department, and Secretary of the Sabah Islamic Religious Council.

The late Ahmadshah, who was born in Kampung Inanam here on December 9, 1946, is survived by four children. His wife, Toh Puan Dayang Masuyah Awang Japar, passed away in 2020.