PM Najib Arrives Friday To Pay Last Respects To Late King Bhumibol

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa BANGKOK, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived here Friday, to pay his last respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died last week. Najib, who is also finance minister, had flown from Kuala Lumpur soon after tabling the 2017 Budget in Parliament. His arrival via a special aircraft at the Royal Thai Air Force's (RTAF) Dong Mueang airbase at 9.40pm (local time) was received by Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Nazirah Hussain. Accompanying the prime minister was his wife, Rosmah Mansor, Plantations, Industries and Commodities Minister Mah Siew Keong and other senior government officials. Najib and wife are scheduled to pay their last respects to the widely-revered, late King Bhumibol at the Grand Palace Saturday, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall. The Malaysian prime minister will also sign a condolence book at the Main Hall of Bureau of the Royal Household before ending his visit to the Grand Palace. He will depart for home later Saturday. King Bhumibol died at 3.52pm last Thursday while receiving treatment at the Siriraj Hospital following years of poor health. He was 89. -- BERNAMA