Religious affairs minister: Heart attacks behind most of 11 Malaysian pilgrim deaths in Holy Land
The 68-year-old woman, from Kota Tinggi, Johor, breathed her last at 6.05pm local time.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said Malaysia recorded 11 deaths so far of its pilgrims in the Holy Land during this 1446H/2025M Haj season.
'The Malaysian government and the Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) expressed their sadness over the death of the pilgrims concerned. TH made all the necessary funeral arrangements, including for the funeral prayers at the Grand Mosque and burial in the Holy Land of Makkah,' he said in a statement here.
He said the next of kin of the deceased in Malaysia had also been informed about the death of their loved ones by TH.
'We would like to express our condolences to the families of all the deceased and pray that their souls may be blessed and placed among the righteous,' he added.
So far, 10 cases of Malaysian pilgrims who died in Mecca have been confirmed to have been caused by heart attacks, while another was due to a bacterial infection and organ failure. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Increase tobacco tax to RM0.77 per stick in 2026 budget, says think tank
Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.6% of retail prices, below the World Health Organization's recommendation of 75%. (Pixabay pic) PETALING JAYA : A health think tank today called for the excise duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products to be raised to at least RM0.77 per stick in the next federal budget. Azrul Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said raising the excise tax would lift its share of the retail price to 61% and bring in an additional RM771.8 million in revenue. 'Malaysia spends an estimated RM16 billion annually treating smoking-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer,' he said in a statement. 'For every RM1 collected from tobacco excise duties, RM4 is spent on treating smoking-related diseases. We do not yet know how much will be spent on treating vape-related diseases.' Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.6% of retail prices, below the World Health Organization's recommendation of 75%. The excise rate has not been raised since September 2014, when it was increased from 28 sen to 40 sen per stick. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that the government is considering a hike. When announcing the 13th Malaysia Plan, he said the government would broaden its 'pro-health' tax beyond sugary products to cover tobacco, vapes and alcohol as well. He said the expanded tax framework aimed not only to increase revenue, but more critically, to encourage behavioural change and curb the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Separately, Azrul said the ban on the open display of cigarettes, vape and e-cigarettes under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 also needed to be carried out. He said enforcement had been delayed from April to October, allowing continued open sales. 'Experience from countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Australia with the display ban in place has shown that it works to reduce smoking initiation, which is common during adolescence,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
48 more ‘wellness hubs' to promote healthy lifestyles
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad (centre) at the newly-opened wellness hub in Kuala Langat, Selangor, today. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The health ministry is to set up 48 more wellness hub community centres across the country to help promote a healthy lifestyle among the people, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said. He said 33 such hubs have been established since 2020 in urban and rural areas and the remaining 48 hubs are expected to be completed by 2033, Bernama reported. 'While hospitals and clinics play a crucial role, I regard wellness bubs as the cornerstone of healthcare, particularly in urban and rural areas, offering substantial support for people's health,' he said at the opening of a wellness hub in Kuala Langat, Selangor. A new facility will be launched in Kuala Selangor later this year, the fourth in the state, after Hulu Langat, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Langat. Dzulkefly said the centres had helped nearly 1.5 million Malaysians, of whom 75% had successfully lost weight, 74% improved their physical fitness, and 54% quit smoking. He said the wellness hubs, formerly known as community health promotion centres, have been upgraded into community centres that offer health and wellness services, focussing on behavioural changes and promoting consistent, sustainable healthy lifestyles. At today's ceremony, the ministry entered a collaboration with the fire and rescue department on health and wellness initiatives, including activities at the Fire and Rescue Academy and fire stations. Dzulkefly said more than 1,100 firefighters have taken part in activities at wellness hubs and most of them have successfully lost weight and become more fit.
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
MOH targets 81 Wellness Hubs by 2033 to boost healthcare access nationwide, says Dzulkefly
KUALA LANGAT, Aug 17 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has set a goal to establish 81 Wellness Hubs across Malaysia, aiming to strengthen the national healthcare ecosystem, said Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad. Dzulkefly highlighted that 33 Wellness Hubs have already been established in both urban and rural areas, with the remaining 48 hubs expected to be completed by 2033. 'While hospitals and clinics play a crucial role, I regard Wellness Hubs as the cornerstone of healthcare, particularly in urban and rural areas, offering substantial support for people's health,' he said at the opening of the Kuala Langat Wellness Hub here. Since their inception in 2020, Wellness Hubs across the country have benefited over 1.48 million Malaysians. Notably, 75 per cent of participants successfully lost weight, 74 per cent improved their physical fitness, and 54 per cent quit smoking. 'This clearly shows that Wellness Hubs are not merely service centres, they are driving positive lifestyle changes within the community,' Dzulkefly added. Currently, three Wellness Hubs are operational in Selangor, located in Hulu Langat, Sabak Bernam, and Kuala Langat. Dzulkefly also announced that a new facility will be launched in Kuala Selangor later this year. The Wellness Hubs, formerly known as Community Health Promotion Centres, have been upgraded into community centres that offer health and wellness services, focusing on behavior change and promoting consistent, sustainable healthy lifestyles. The event also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between MOH and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), outlining collaborative health and wellness initiatives, including activities at the Fire and Rescue Academy and fire stations nationwide. — Bernama
