The body of mountaineer Lt Col Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, who was killed during an expedition to Mount Everest, is expected to be brought from Base Camp to Kathmandu, Nepal tomorrow when weather conditions permit.
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said in a statement today that a team of sherpas would bring out the body from Camp Four to Base Camp at 2 pm local time today.
He added that he had held a video conference with Foreign Ministry Consular Division secretary Datuk Mohammad Ali Selamat and the Charge d` Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu, Mohd Fazle Abu Hasan today about the operation’s progress.
Awang Askandar, the Kedah Civil Defence Force director, born in Kampung Benoni, Papar, Sabah, was a participant of the Malaysia Everest 2023 expedition that began on April 2. He died after running into health issues at an elevation of 8,000 metres above sea level while making his final ascent to the top of Mount Everest.
Armizan, in his capacity of Papar MP, said he had discussed and informed the latest developments pertaining to Awang Askandar’s remains with Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“The chief minister gave his commitment that the state government will help bear the additional costs needed outside of insurance coverage for funeral matters to ensure that Awang Askandar can be buried in his village in Papar, in accordance with his family’s wishes,” he added.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
