MH17: Jakim sends 10 Imams to Ukraine

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) will be sending 10 imams to Ukraine to help with the religious guidance and funeral rites over the crash of a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) aircraft there yesterday.

JAKIM director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said in a statement that the JAKIM delegation will be headed by the Grand Imam of the Putra Mosque here, Abdul Manaf Mat.

In the meantime, the religious body had sent an officer to the Marriott Hotel here tonight to lead the 'terawih' prayers and hold the 'tahlil' and 'yassin' sessions with the families of the Flight MH17 crash victims who were staying at the hotel.

Othman also urged all mosques and suraus in the country to hold 'tahlil' sessions for the victims.

Major mosques under the supervision of JAKIM and the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department would also hold 'solat hajat' prayers on the last 10 nights of Ramadan for the nation's peace and safety, he said.

Flight MH17 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Ukraine. It was carrying 298 people - 283 passengers and 15 crew.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said earlier today that Ukrainian authorities believe the Boeing 777 was shot down.

MH17 had left Amsterdam at 12.15 pm (Netherlands time) Thursday and was to have arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10 am (Malaysian time) Friday.