MASkargo Brings Home Everest Climber

27 May 2023

It was a somber Saturday morning of 27 May for the team in MASkargo as they prepared the premises for the arrival of Allahyarham Lt. Col. (PA) Awang Askandar bin Ampuan Yaacub’s remains, the Malaysian Everest climber who passed away on the mountain during the expedition.

To fulfil his team members’ request for a final respect before he is flown and laid to rest in his hometown in Sabah, MASkargo hosted the poignant event at the i-secure area with more than 60 Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel in attendance. Upon arrival on flight MH115 from Kathmandu at 0715hrs, his coffin was brought to the event area where his esteemed team mates the Malaysian flag. This was followed by a reading of the yasin and tahlil prayers. Onsite representing MAG was Chief Executive Officer of MASkargo, Mark Jason Thomas and Captain Nasaruddin Abu Bakar, Chief Operating Officer of Malaysia Airlines.

HRH Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Salehuddin, the Raja Muda of Kedah and HRH Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff, Raja Puan Muda of Kedah were also present to their last respects. The ceremony ended with a final salute line up as Tuan Awang Askandar’s coffin was driven out of i-secure to the airside to depart on flight MH2646 bound for Kota Kinabalu.

Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, the MASkargo team made quick work of the release clearance process and Tuan Awang Askandar’s coffin was handed over to the APM personnel. In appreciation of MASkargo’s assistance with the arrangements, APM posted a special message to the MASkargo team on their social media platforms to thank the team for their dedication. Due to a very short lead time for preparation, the concerted efforts of all MAG team members and associates in KTM, KUL and BKI in ensuring this momentous responsibility is carried out effectively and respectfully deserves recognition.

It was an honour for MASkargo to assist in bringing home Allahyarham Lt.Col. (PA) Awang Askandar bin Ampuan Yaacub back to his home and final resting place. Al-Fatihah.