After battling cancer for about a year, the Tunku Laksamana of Johor, Tunku Abdul Jalil Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim, passed away at the royal ward in the Sultanah Aminah Hospital at 7:11pm today (5th December, Saturday).
It is learnt that members of the Johor royal family were at his bedside when he breathed his last. He was 25 years old.
The news was first announced by President of the Johor Council of the Royal Court Mr Abdul Rahim Ramli. It was also confirmed by Tunku Abdul Jalil’s older brother, The Tunku Temenggong of Johor Tunku Idris who posted up a poignant update on his Instagram in loving memory of his brother:
Tunku Abdul Jalil’s younger brother, the Tunku Panglima of Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman also echoed the above sentiments.
He, too, took to his Instagram to confirm the news of his brother’s passing:
Tunku Abdul Jalil was born in 1990 to the Johor royal family. He is the 4th child (out of 6 children) of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah.
Tunku Abdul Jalil graduated in Zoology studies from a university in the UK and had worked as a zoo keeper in Singapore Zoo for about a year and at the London Zoo for 2 years.
The young prince was invested as the Tunku Laksamana of Johor in Muar in 2012 by his father, the Sultan of Johor, in conjunction with the state ruler’s birthday celebrations. He was also a commissioned police inspector and held the post of the Royal Chief of Staff of the Johor Palace.
In August last year, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He later underwent a liver transplant on 10th December 2014 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University in Guandong, China.
Barely a month ago, it was reported that he was admitted at the Royal Ward at Sultanah Aminah Hospital for treatment after he complained of back pain.
At that time, the royal family of Johor rubbished reports of Tunku Abdul Jalil being in “critical condition”, with the Sultan of Johor saying that the rumours of the prince critically ill are all false and that it was hurtful to have such news spread like wildfire on social media.
Tunku Abdul Jalil was known to be a “People’s Prince” due to his approachable nature and friendliness to Johoreans of all ages. The Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation was named after him. The new mosque at the Johor police headquarters was also named after him.
There has been a massive outpouring of condolences from Malaysians as well as Malaysian leaders since the initial announcement. Notably, from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, and Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin:
Merafak sembah takziah ats kemangkatn Tunku Laksamana Johor, Y.A.M. Tunku Abd Jalil Sultan Ibrahim. Semoga rohnya dicucuri rahmt. Al-Fatihah
— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) December 5, 2015
Merafak sembah takziah atas kemangkatan YAM Almarhum Tunku Abdul Jalil Iskandar ibni Sultan Ibrahim. Smg dicucuri rahmat AllahSWT. AlFatihah
— Hishammuddin Hussein 🇲🇾 (@HishammuddinH2O) December 5, 2015
https://twitter.com/liowtionglai/status/673130031355314176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Merafak Sembah Takziah kepada kerabat di Raja Johor atas kemangkatan Tunku Laksamana Johor, Almarhum YAM Tunku Abd Jalil. Al-Fatihah.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) December 5, 2015
According to a report by NST, a semi-state funeral will be held for Tunku Abdul Jalil tomorrow (6th December, Sunday).
President of the Johor Council of the Royal Court Mr Abdul Rahim Ramli said that the final rites will be carried out at the Istana Besar. The public can pay their last respects for Tunku Abdul Jalil at the Istana Besar from 9am – 11:30am.
A hearse bearing Tunku Abdul Jalil’s remains will later pass through a 3km route from Istana Besar to the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum. His remains will then be buried at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in Johor Baru after Zohor prayers tomorrow.
After which, a 3-day mourning period would begin for the public and civil servants in Johor starting tomorrow. Members of the royal family will observe a 7-day mourning period.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the royal family of Johor as well as our friends in Johor during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.
Sources: TRP, NST, The Star Online (1), Malaysiakini, CNA, NST, The Star Online (2) / Featured image from MStar.
