MH17: Funeral prayers for Muslim crash victims at Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque, KLIA

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Wednesday that funeral prayers for the victims would be held at the mosque before their remains were handed over to their families.

He said there would be enough vehicles to bring back the remains to the victims' homes and this was being jointly coordinated by the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department and Selangor Islamic Religious Department.

"Putrajaya Corporation is also prepared to allocate grave sites at the burial grounds in Precinct 20, Putrajaya for the victims if there are requests from their family members," he added in a media statement issued, here.

On solat jenazah ghaib (funeral prayers in the absence of the remains of the deceased), Jamil Khir said after the remains of the Muslim victims had been bathed and wrapped in shroud by the Malaysian team in Amsterdam, the Malaysian government could announce that solat jenazah ghaib could be held in Malaysia.

"At the same time, when the remains have arrived at KLIA, there is no hindrance for Muslims to hold the normal funeral prayers (solat jenazah) once again.

"For Muslims who are in other states or staying far away but wish to perform the funeral prayers (solat jenazah) for the victims but unable to do so, they can perform the solat jenazah ghaib at their respective places," he said.

Jamil Khir said Jakim had sent to Ukraine, 10 representatives from the department, including two women, and the team was led by Putrajaya Mosque chief imam Abdul Manaf Mat to assist in preparing the bodies of the Muslim crash victims.

He said the team would manage the remains after being identified by forensic experts from the Health Ministry.