THE husband of the late Malaysian actress Nadia Kesuma has moved to correct misinformation circulating online regarding the circumstances of her death in Jeddah earlier this month.
Professor Dr Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan Abdullah said images shared on social media purporting to show Nadia collapsing at Raja Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah were false.
“There has been a post circulating with a screenshot claiming to show the deceased collapsing at the airport. For everyone’s information, such video evidence does not exist at this stage,” he wrote on Facebook.
Muhammad Kamarul explained that the family has formally requested permission from the Malaysian government to view the official footage through Saudi authorities, given that Nadia was reported missing on January 15.
“Unfortunately, our request had not been granted as of the day we were scheduled to return to Malaysia,” he added, noting that Saudi authorities have strict protocols and procedures.
He further clarified the reporting process for missing adults in Saudi Arabia, noting that a police report can only be filed 24 hours after a disappearance. “So, how can we know that she passed away at the airport?
“The incident was determined based on closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reviewed by Saudi officials. The video has not been shown to us, and the precise location has not been disclosed. Any statements claiming she collapsed at a specific location are therefore incorrect,” he said.
Muhammad Kamarul said that according to officials, Nadia was immediately transported via stretcher to an ambulance and received medical attention as quickly as possible.
He also clarified the timing of her death, explaining that the family did not know the exact location of the collapse but had been informed of the timeframe.
“We do not know precisely where she fell. However, we know the time of death, which was between 8:00 and 8:10 a.m. Jeddah time, equivalent to 1:00–1:10 p.m. Malaysian time,” he said.
He addressed discrepancies in public accounts, noting that a social media post by his daughter, Myraa, incorrectly listed the time of death as 8:05 p.m.
This confusion arose because the family received official notification from Wisma Putra at 12:17am January 18, 2026.
“The official time of death provided by the hospital in Jeddah was 8:07amJeddah time, or 1:07pm in Malaysia,” he said.
Nadia Kesuma, also known as Nadiah Kasumawati Abdul Karim, 50, was reported missing while in transit at Jeddah airport on her way from Kuala Lumpur to London as part of a 21-person Umrah-London-Paris travel package organised by Nuh Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd.
Saudi airport authorities have confirmed that Nadia suffered a heart attack and was rushed to King Fahad Hospital Jeddah.
Muhammad Kamarul urged the public to respect the family’s privacy and cautioned against spreading unverified reports.
“We simply wish for the truth to be understood and for the family to be allowed to process this loss in private,” he said. - January 24, 2026
