updated version The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah died earlier today at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced this officially in a live telecast at 1.55pm.

He said the 75-year-old monarch passed away at 11.57am at the private medical centre.

The late Sultan of Selangor was appointed the eleventh King on Feb 27, 1999.

Mahathir also declared tomorrow as a public holiday so that all citizens can pay their last respects to the late King. He said that there will be a seven-day mourning period.

"All government functions for today and tomorrow will be cancelled and all flags must fly at half mast for seven days."

Kidney problems

Mahathir did not make any announcements on funeral arrangements or on when the Acting King Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is also the Terengganu Sultan, will be installed as the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The King had been suffering from kidney and cardiac problems and was warded in the cardiac care unit here in critical condition since his arrival from Singapore on Sunday. His breathing and kidney functions had to be supported by machines.

Earlier, the King had gone to Singapore in October for treatment and had undergone a two-hour surgery at a private hospital there to have a pacemaker implanted. He had two heart by-pass operations in the United States in 1994 and 1997.

Meanwhile, members of parliament observed a one-minute silence to mark their respect to the late King in Parliament this afternoon.

House speaker Mohamad Zahir Ismail also adjourned parliamentary sittings for two days.