KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking into a news report which states compensation was denied to victims of a crane crash in Masjidil Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia two years ago.
Among those killed in the incident were seven Malaysians.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Tabung Haji is in the midst of seeking clarification from the Saudi Arabian government on the matter.
"I have instructed Tabung Haji to contact the Saudi government for the validity of the news report," he said.
At present, the government has yet to receive official information from Tabung Haji, which is the Malaysian haj pilgrims fund board.
The minister was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid (BN-Kota Tinggi) during a question session in Dewan Rakyat today.
On Monday, the Saudi Gazette news portal reported that the Saudi court ruled out compensation for the families of the pilgrims killed in the crane crash at Masjidil Haram, also known as the Grand Mosque.
The Saudi Gazette, a leading English-language daily newspaper in Jeddah, added that the construction company involved, Binladen, has been cleared of negligence.
According to the Saudi Arabian authorities, 107 pilgrims died and 238 were injured in the incident on September 2015.
The crane collapsed on the Masjidil Haram building, which was undergoing extension work, after Muslims had performed the Asar prayers.