Many claimants to Noordin’s body complicates his burial

JOHOR BARU: Numerous people have come forward to say that they are slain Islamic militant Noordin Mat Top’s relatives and wanting to claim his body.

Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam said the process of returning his body might not be a simple procedure with so many claimants.

“We have to vet these claims before allowing the body to be brought back to Malaysia,” he said, declining to reveal the number of people claiming to be Noordin’s relatives.

Although the process would be time-consuming, Nordin’s body should arrive here by next week, he said.

“He will definitely be buried in Pontian as that is where his hometown is,” said Mahmood.

Asked about the large police presence at Noordin’s home in Sg Tiram and Pontian, he said it was done to protect the family.

“People might want to hurt them because of their relationship with Noordin.”

When The Star visited Noordin’s home in Sg Tiram, a family member said he was not sure when the burial would take place.

He said that Noordin’s wife, Rahmah Hamid, has not contacted them since she left for Indonesia.

“We were told that the protocol will be similar to what happened when Dr Azahari’s body was brought back,” he said.

He was referring to Malaysian Dr Azahari Husin, a bomb specialist who was also killed in a shoot-out with the Indonesian police in Surabaya three years ago. He was buried in Malacca.