Former palace head recalls pilgrimage with Sultan Abdul Halim
ALOR STAR: A former aide of the late Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah described his 36 years of service to the ruler as the most memorable time of his life.
The former head of Istana Anak Bukit, Ahmad Arshad Ishak, 70, who began serving the sultan at the age of 17 in 1968, said being able to accompany Almarhum (the late sultan) on his pilgrimage in 1974 was among the most precious moments in his palace career.
"As head of the palace, I accompanied Sultan Abdul Halim on Haj and while in Makkah, I was privileged to follow tuanku inside the Kaabah and it was an unforgettable experience for me," he said when met at the Istana Anak Bukit audience hall, where the lying-in-state was held, today.
Ahmad Arshad began as a personal butler of the late sultan at the age of 17 before being appointed as palace head from 1974 to 2004.
He said the last time he met Almarhum was on the first day of Aidilfitri and although the sultan looked tired, he could still banter with him.
"I was given the opportunity to meet Sultan Abdul Halim for 35 minutes and in that duration, we reminisced the time when I was serving His Highness," he said.
Ahmad Arshad said although he was very sad with the demise of tuanku, their last meeting was a timely closure for him.
He heard of the sultan's passing from the palace at 3pm before rushing to Istana Anak Bukit.
He said the amiable sultan was very approachable during his entire service at the palace.
"Sultan Abdul Halim was a simple man who was easy to please, but he was very particular about punctuality and his clothes must always be neat.
"Even when an employee made a mistake, the sultan would not raise his voice but would gently remind his staff," he said.
He noted that the sultan loved fish curry, fried salted ikan sepat (perch) and kuih pulut kacau (glutinous rice cake) but he was not very choosy about the food served by the palace cooks.
Ahmad Arshad said the Sultan also showed concern about the education of his four children, now aged between 27 and 41.
"His Highness was always reminding me to make sure my children studied well and stressed on the importance of seeking knowledge.
"In fact, my children considered the sultan a fatherly figure and they would greet the sultan every Hari Raya," he said.
Sultan Abdul Halim passed away at 2.30pm in Istana Anak Bukit at the age of 89, after ruling Kedah for 59 years. — Bernama