MECCA: One Malaysian pilgrim was killed in the stampede tragedy in Mina on Sept 24.
The pilgrim, Zulkifly Samad, 50, of Taman Ukay Bistari, Ampang, Selangor, is believed to have strayed into the area where the tragedy happened.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Departmet Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Tabung Haji was initially informed that no Malaysians were caught in the stampede.
“Tabung Haji did checks at the Malaysian pilgrims encampment from 12.30pm to 3pm (local time) on the day of the incident.
“There were no complaints from family members or fellow pilgrims about anyone missing,” he said in a statement here on Sunday.
However, he said about 11pm (local time) that day, Zulkifly’s wife, Suriahanim Abd Hamid, lodged a report that her husband did not return to his tent.
Asyraf Wajdi said Suriahanim reported that her husband did not join the other Malaysian pilgrims in making their way from Muzdalifah to Mina because he wanted to follow Prophet Muhammad’s example by walking the distance.
According to Suriahanim, the last telephone call she made to her husband was at 7.15am on the day of the incident, before she arrived in Mina with other pilgrims.
In the call, she said, Zulkifly had informed her that he had arrived in Mina .
Asyraf Wajdi said after receiving the report, Tabung Haji staff conducted a search in the Jamarat Complex and hospitals near Mina.
He said at 1.30pm (local time) yesterday, a Tabung Haji medical team checked the Moaissim mortuary and found the body of a missing Malaysian pilgrim.
The medical team identified the body based on the identification tag found, he said.
“Tabung Haji has confirmed that the body is that of Zulkifly Samad,” he added.
More that 700 pilgrims were killed in the stampede, which happened in an area where pilgrims from Middle Eastern countries were encamped, about 4km from where the Malaysian pilgrims’ encampment. --Bernama