Tabung Haji identifying remains at Muaissem mortuary for missing pilgrims

Tabung Haji (TH) is focusing on identifying the remains at the Muaissem mortuary in Mina, in order to trace two Malaysian pilgrims who are still missing in the aftermath of the crane tragedy in Makkah on Friday.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said a search near the Masjid al-Haram, the hotels and hospitals in Makkah failed to find the pilgrims.

"The identification of remains at the Muaissem mortuary is conducted from all angles, including the use of DNA and biometrics," he told Malaysian journalists here, Monday.

TH chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has arrived in Saudi Arabia to oversee the search for the two missing pilgrims and give moral support to other Malaysian pilgrims.

The two still missing are Abdul Habib Lahman, 68, from Sik, Kedah and Shahidan Saad, 52, from Kodiang, Kedah.

Jamil Khir also said TH will bury the remains of five Malaysian pilgrims killed in the tragedy.

"The Saudi Arabian government has given the best cooperation but they are also not spared certain procedures before burial arrangements can be done," he added.

The five Malaysian pilgrims killed were Rusiah Suar, 56, from Sungkai, Perak; Siti Nurolshlizan Zolkifli, 37, from Tanah Merah, Kelantan; Rohana Ismail, 54, from Kuala Krai, Kelantan; Munah Jusoh, 73, from Cherang Ruku, Kelantan and Zainun Taha, 69, from Ampang, Selangor. PHOTOS: Crane collapse at Grand Mosque, Makkah