KUALA LUMPUR: Tunku Abdullah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman passed away at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport clinic after experiencing breathing difficulties yesterday. He was 83.

Tunku Abdullah encountered breathing difficulties after arriving from London.

Tunku Abdullah, who was the third son of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the brother of Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Jaafar, had arrived at the KLIA from London when he complained of breathing difficulties.

He was rushed to the airport's clinic and was pronounced dead at 9.20am.

He was laid to rest at the Makam Diraja Seri Menanti in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah were among those who paid their last respects at Tunku Abdullah's house here.
Tunku Abdullah had served in the civil service for more than 10 years before being involved in politics. He was Rawang member of parliament from 1964 to 1974, while presiding in several voluntary organisations such as Malaysian Association of Youth Club (1954-1970), Malaysia Youth Council (1966-1972) and Asian Youth Council (1972-1978). He was also an executive member of the World Assembly of Youth.

Apart from Melewar Industrial Group where he was the chairman, Tunku Abdullah also held chairmanship and directorship of several public-listed companies which included MAA Holdings, Georgetown Holdings and Datuk Keramat Holdings.

He leaves behind wife Che Engku Rozeeta Ahmad Baharuddin, nine children and 17 grandchildren.