Everest climber Awang Askandar’s remains arrive at KLIA

SEPANG – The remains of Malaysian Everest 2023 climber Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at about 7.30am today.

The body of the Kedah Civil Defence Force director arrived home on the MH115 flight, which departed from Kathmandu, Nepal, at 11.30pm yesterday (Nepal Time).

Awang Askandar’s remains will be taken to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, with the MH2646 flight at 11.35am and are expected to arrive at the Kota Kinabalu Airport at 2.15pm.

More than 70 Civil Defence Force personnel paid their last respects to the deceased at the KLIA Cargo Complex, followed by the Yasin recital and tahlil led by Assoc Lt (PA) Miszlee Samais.

Also in attendance were the Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin and Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said Awang Askandar’s remains would be taken to his family house in Kg Benoni, Papar, and later taken to the As-Salam Benoni Mosque for funeral prayers.

His remains will be buried at the Kg Benoni Muslim Cemetery and accorded full military honours during the burial.

Awang Askandar, 56, was reported to have fallen when making the final ascent at 8,000m and was pronounced dead while being treated at Camp 4.

During the mishap, Awang Askandar was with fellow climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim, 33, and would have needed only 20 minutes to reach the peak.

The hearing-impaired Hawari was reported missing after reaching the summit, and search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing. – Bernama, May 27, 2023