The late Tunku Laksamana of Johor Tunku Abdul Jalil Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim, the only member of the royal family who joined the police, underwent a tough training under the Royal Malaysian Police's Special Action Unit.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he had convinced Tunku Abdul Jalil to join the police after he had shown an interest in policing.

Tunku Jalil, who died of liver cancer at aged 25 last Saturday, was reported to have undergone a nine-month probationary inspector course at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) at the age of 21, and graduated in 2012.

He joined the police force and underwent an officer training for a year, and followed by Special Forces (UTK) training courses at a technical college in Muar.

Last October he was appointed as officer in charge of Johor Palace Affairs.

Hishammuddin said the fourth child of Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris was a lovable person.

"I have visited him many times (before his demise)," Hishammuddin told Bernama on the sidelines of the UMNO General Assembly here today.

Tunku Jalil's death at such a young age is "a lesson for me. Life is short, and our lives are in God's hand," he said.

Tunku Jalil had been diagnosed with liver cancer late last year, and underwent a liver transplant in China December last year.

Tunku Abdul Jalil breathed his last at 7.11pm on Saturday at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru, and was laid to rest at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum on Sunday.

READ: Permaisuri of Johor pens heartfelt note to son Tunku Jalil

READ: 6 reasons why Tunku Abdul Jalil adored by many

READ: 'Lil (Tunku Jalil), forgive me for not paying my last respects' - Siti Nurhaliza

READ: A brother's note: 'Your smile was my strength...I will always love you' - TMJ