Two missing Malaysian pilgrims confirmed dead

Two of the missing Malaysian Haj pilgrims in the aftermath of the Makkah crane collapse tragedy last Sept 11 were confirmed dead, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

The bodies of the two victims - Shahidan Saad, 52, from Kodiang, Kedah, and Abdul Habib Lahman, 68, from Sik, also in Kedah, were identified by their respective family members at the Muaissem mortuary in Mina.

He said Tabung Haji (TH) was informed on the discovery of the two bodies by the Saudi Arabian authorities at 10 pm Saudi time (3 am today in Malaysia).

Following which, he said, a TH medical team went to the Muaissem mortuary to make the preliminary identification before bringing the next-of-kin of the victims to identify the bodies.

He said TH was still waiting for information from the Saudi Arabian authorities on where and time the bodies were found.

"The bodies of the victims were confirmed by their next of kin and supported by the identification of bracelets, tags and personal items belonging to the victims," he told reporters here.

Shahidan's body was identified by his brothers, Sobri and Zulhakim, while that of Abdul Habib, by his son, Abdul Habib.

The next of kin of the victims arrived here last Friday for DNA testing to determine the identification of unidentified bodies that were collected from the scene of the tragedy.

Dr Asyraf Wajdi said efforts were now made to expedite funeral arrangement for the victims.

This brings to seven the number of Malaysian haj pilgrims killed in the tragedy.

The other five were Rusiah Suar, 56, from Sungkai, Perak; Siti Nurolshlizan Zolkifli, 37, from Tanah Merah; Rohana Ismail, 54, from Kuala Krai; Munah Jusoh, 73, from Cherang Ruku, and Zainun Taha, 69, from Ampang, Selangor.

The tragedy occurred at 5 pm on Sept 11 when a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque. It claimed more than 100 lives and injured hundreds others.