SUNGAI PETANI: The remains of Hazlami Ahmad Nizam, the Malaysian climber who died at Mera Peak in Nepal on Thursday was laid to rest at the Kampung Bukit Muslims Cemetery in Sungai Pasir here about 5pm today.
About 200 family members and friends attended the funeral ceremony after his body was taken to the Masjid Muhibbudin in Sungai Pasir here for funeral prayers.
Hazlami's cousin, Shahidah Nailul Morad, 37, described the deceased as a friendly and helpful person.
"He was a kind, responsible, friendly and helpful person. We really feel loss over his passing.
"He was really into climbing and it was not his first. He has been participating in climbing expeditions both in the country and abroad," she said when met at the mosque.
She added that Hazlami, the second child of four, is survived by wife Nur Farhah Busyra Ismail, 33, and three children Mawardah, 6, Muhammad, 4, and one-year-old Munawarah.
She said Farhah is pregnant and due to give birth to their fourth child next January.
It was reported earlier today that Hazlami's remains arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport this morning from the Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu.
The remains were later flown to the Penang International Airport before being transported to Sungai Petani for the funeral process.
A post mortem was conducted at the Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu on Sunday
confirmed that Hazlami died due to acute mountain sickness.
Hazlami's wife, father Ahmad Nizam Damiri, sister Nur Liyana and cousin Muhammad Mustapa Kamarudin have been in Nepal since Friday but returned home on a Batik Air flight at 9.30 pm local time yesterday.
Hazlami, 33, was a Petronas Chemicals staff member in Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang.
He was reported to have died while climbing Mera Peak at 5,700 m above sea level, after complaining of being unwell.
His remains were brought down by mountain guides to 5,500 m above sea level before being evacuated by helicopter to Lukla and to Kathmandu on Saturday for the documentation process and the post-mortem.