30-06-2025
RMAF veteran passes away during prayer, cause confirmed as heart attack
BUTTERWORTH: A retired Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) veteran collapsed and died while performing duha prayers at Masjid Jamek Sungai Puyu here.
Police said the death was due to an heart attack.
Zulkifli Ahmad, 50, a member of the RMAF Veterans Association, had reportedly stopped by the mosque on Saturday morning to perform the duha prayer when he suddenly collapsed in the prayer hall.
Several congregants attending a religious programme witnessed the incident, which occurred at around 10.45am.
Seberang Perai Utara police chief, Assistant Commissioner Anuar Abd Rahman, said police were alerted to the incident by a call from a member of the public at 10.23am.
"An investigation team was immediately dispatched to the location. The man was found unconscious, and a medical team from Seberang Jaya Hospital later confirmed he had died at the scene," he said in a statement today.
Anuar said a preliminary examination found no signs of foul play, while a post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as a blocked coronary artery.
He urged the public not to speculate about the incident and to respect the privacy of the victim's family.
Zulkifli's remains were returned to his hometown in Batu Kurau, Perak, and buried after Asar prayers on the same day.
