Second Malaysian pilgrim dies

A SECOND Malaysian pilgrim has died, 22 days before Wuquf (which is where pilgrims must assemble in Arafat for the highlight of the haj ritual followed by three days of the stoning of the devil ritual).

He has been named as Hashim Abdul Latif, 60, from Rapat Jaya in Ipoh, Perak.

Releasing the news today, head of the Malaysian pilgrims’ delegation Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said Hashim died of a heart attack while being given treatment at the Tabung Haji clinic located at Rehab Janadariyah, in Makkah.

Hashim was buried here in Makkah after zohor prayers yesterday. Syed Salleh added that Hashim’s wife is being comforted and given counseling by Tabung Haji personnel given the task to handle such sensitive matters or emotional situations.

The first death of a Malaysian pilgrim was that of Daud Kassim, 64 from dari Johor who died from a heart attack while still in Madinah three days ago.