Kuala lumpur: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, today expressed his condolences to the family of renowned design and branding consultant Datuk Johan Ariff Abdullah Ariff, who died last Wednesday. The Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, also extended her condolences to the family.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a post on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page revealed that Johan Ariff was a close acquaintance of the Sultan of Selangor and had designed the Royal Coat of Arms for the Tengku Ampuan Selangor. The son of renowned painter Abdullah Ariff, known as the 'Father of Modern Art in Malaysia', Johan Ariff had also collaborated with Sultan Sharafuddin on various publications, including 'Dapur Istana Alam Shah: Royal Recipes From Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Selangor' as well as publications on the Royal Palace Mosque and the Royal Automobile Gallery.

The deceased, founder of Johan Design Associates (JDA), was actively involved in corporate branding and identity for several institutions, including Petronas, Malaysia Airlines, KLCC Property, Putrajaya Holdings, Sapura Kencana, TRX, and most banks in Malaysia.

Johan Ariff was also the Co-Founder of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR) Championship, which has placed Malaysia on the international sailing map, besides having held the position of Commodore at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club.

'For his services and contributions, he was awarded the Darjah Kebesaran Dato' Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (D.S.S.A.) in 1996 and the Setia Mahkota Selangor (S.M.S.) in 1989 by the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah,' according to the post.

The Sultan of Selangor and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor also prayed that the deceased's soul may be placed with the righteous.