PETALING JAYA: The remains of Malaysia Everest (ME2023) climber Lieutenant Colonel Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 7.30am on Saturday (May 27).
The body of the Kedah Civil Defence (APM) director had been flown into Malaysia on Malaysia Airlines flight MH115, which left Kathmandu, Nepal at 11.30pm Friday (May 26).
His remains will be brought back to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on flight MH2646 at 11.35am and is expected to arrive at the Kota Kinabalu Airport at 2.15pm on Saturday, reported Sinar Harian.
As a mark of respect, an event was held at the KLIA Cargo Complex here, participated by 70 APM members with the recitals of yasin and tahlil prayers led by Federal Civil Defence Lieutenant Miszlee Samais.
The Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin and Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff were present during the event.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak and Special Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali was quoted on Friday as saying due to the request of the family, the remains would be brought to Kampung Benoni, Papar, Sabah and later to Masjid Jamek As-Salam Benoni for prayers.
The remains of Awang Askandar would be buried at the Islamic burial ground, Kampung Benoni with the full APM traditional honours.
Awang Iskandar died after falling when climbing Mount Everest, from 8,000m above sea level when he had only about 20min left to reach the peak.
He was with national climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim, 33, who is hearing-impaired.
Muhammad Hawari is still missing after successfully reaching the highest peak in the world and search operations to find him are still ongoing.
