Kedah Civil Defence Force director Lt Kol Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub has perished during his attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. It is reported that Awang died at 10.30am in Nepal (12.45pm Malaysia time) after falling at an altitude of 8,000 meters above sea level.

The news was confirmed by APM chief commissioner Aminurrahim Mohamed when he received a notification from the head of the climbing mission. "May Allah reward his good deeds, grant him the highest level of blessings... and may he be placed among the righteous," Aminurrahim said in a brief statement on Friday.

Head of the ME 2023 Mission, Azim Afif Ishak, 35, said, at the time of the incident, the deceased along with Muhammad Hawari Hashim, 33, were climbing and only about 20 minutes away from reaching the summit.

Rest in peace.