By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, Sept 2 — The Sultan of Selangor and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor have extended their condolences to the family of the late Datuk Seri Francis McWilliams, who passed away on Wednesday (August 31).
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin also expressed their sadness and sorrow at McWilliams' passing in the United Kingdom, aged 96.
According to the Selangor Royal Office, McWilliams, born in 1926, arrived and settled in Malaya in 1953 to start his career as an assistant engineer with the Melaka Municipal Council.
He was later appointed as a city engineer with the Petaling Jaya Development Corporation (PJDC), and was responsible for the Petaling Jaya area's initial development planning in 1954.
"The late McWilliams retired from the PJDC as General Manager in 1964, and continued to reside in Malaysia with his family.
"For his contributions and service in developing Selangor, the eighth Sultan of Selangor Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj bestowed the title of Dato' Diraja Selangor unto McWilliams," said the Selangor Royal Office's Facebook post.
Sultan Sharafuddin also hopes McWilliams' wife, To' Puan Lady Wyn McWilliams, and their sons Douglas and Michael will be able to persevere in the face of their loss.
[caption id="attachment_282344" align="aligncenter" width="755"]
Former Petaling Jaya Development Corporation general manager Datuk Seri Francis McWilliams (kneeling) receiving the title of Dato' Diraja from the eighth Sultan of Selangor Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj, on March 1973. — Picture by FACEBOOK/Selangor Royal Office[/caption]
