Scores of people gathered at the family home of slain militant bombmaker Azahari Husin in Malacca ahead of his burial later today.

Some 150 family members from all over the country and villagers flocked to the home where he was born, a typical Malay wooden house surrounded by mango trees just outside the small town of Jasin 150km south of Kuala Lumpur.

Some wept and hugged each other as they awaited the arrival of his remains from the airport. The body was flown out of Indonesia earlier today after police performed Islamic rites over it.

Azahari, a former university lecturer who became a master bombmaker and one of Asia's most wanted men, was killed in a shootout with police in his Indonesian hideout on Nov 9 after a huge hunt.

He and his Malaysian compatriot Noordin Mohammad Top, both members of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah extremist network, have been blamed for a series of deadly blasts including the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people.

Brother-in-law Jalil Mahpud, 51, said Azahari's body would be taken to the local mosque for prayers, then buried at a cemetery 500 metres from the family home where his mother and grandparents are interned.

'A very loving person'

Azahari, who is survived by his wife, two children, eight younger siblings and his 78-year-old father, will be buried in a plot next to his mother Hijjah Awal, who died nine years earlier.

"It is an honour for the family for Azahari to be buried next to his mother," Jalil told AFP .

"We will ask God to forgive him for any mistakes and he be granted a place in heaven," he said.

One of Azahari's former university students, Hamidon Abdul Ghani, 38, said: "I can't believe he was a terrorist. He always taught us to be a good person.

"There was no indication that he was involved in terror activities. He never portrayed that he was an extremist," said Hamidon, adding that he prayed Azahari would earn a place in heaven.

Azahari's 13-year-old nephew Muhamad Muzakkir said his uncle "was a very loving person."

"All the allegations are not true. He taught us to be brave, honest, and to abide by the teachings of Allah. I hope God will bless him."