One of the missing Malaysian Haj pilgrims in the aftermath of the Makkah crane collapse tragedy is alive and well but five have been confirmed dead while two others are unaccounted for.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom told a press conference in Petaling Jaya late last night that Abdul Muluk Ishak, 71, from Pantai Remis, Perak, was actually nowhere near the Grand Mosque when the tragedy happened but was at a hostel for Thai haj pilgrims.

Jamil said besides Rusiah Suar, 56, from Sungkai, Perak who was confirmed as the first Malaysian haj pilgrim killed in the tragedy, four more of the missing had also been confirmed dead, three from Kelantan and one from Selangor.

They are Siti Nurolshlizan Zolkifli, 37, from Tanah Merah; Rohana Ismail, 54, from Kuala Krai; Munah Jusoh, 73, from Cherang Ruku and Zainun Taha, 69, from Ampang, Selangor.

This leaves Abdul Habib Lahman, 68, from Sik, Kedah; and Shahidan Saad, 52, (Kodiang, Kedah) unaccounted for.

Jamil Khir said the bodies of the three Kelantanese haj pilgrims were identified at 6pm (Saudi Arabian time) via their pictures and personal effects at the mortuary they were taken to.

"Their relatives who were on the pilgrimage with them confirmed their identities," he said.

As for Abdul Muluk, Jamil said he had memory problems and had wandered off to the hostel housing Thai haj pilgrims.

"The management of the hostel sent him to the local pilgrims management centre (Andalusia) and he was subsequently taken to Tabung Haji's headquarters in Makkah.

"We are very sad and sympathise with the families of the pilgrims who were killed in the tragedy and advise them to be patient and strong in facing this difficult time," he said.

Jamal also announced tjat Malaysians killed in the Grand Mosque crane tragedy would be buried in Makkah.

'Mother's dream to die in Mecca came true'

Meanwhile, in Ipoh last night, the third child of Rusiah said: "My mother's dream to die in Makkah came true."

However, Hariyanti Ahmad Badri, 31, said she accepted her passing because it was fated.

"I am saddened with her passing," she told reporters when met at her house at Felda Besout 2, near the Perak capital city.

Hariyanti said her family had been informed about the news by Tabung Haji officers who came to the house about 7.45 last night.

"They said her body was found at a hospital in Makkah, but they didn't tell us how the incident happened," she said.

Hariyanti said Tabung Haji would arrange her mother's funeral in Mecca.

He said the bodies of the Malaysian victims had been placed at the Muaissem mortuary, located nearby Mina, Makkah.

Tabung Haji was working round-the-clock to locate the rest of the missing victims at all nearby hospitals and ensuring all identification processes were done speedily, he added.

- Bernama