A Singaporean performing the minor pilgrimage (umrah) in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia, was killed on Tuesday (March 20) after his bus met
with an accident.
A number of passengers were also injured in the traffic
accident, which happened between 8.30am to 9am local time.
Singapore is five hours ahead of Mecca.
In a statement, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
(Muis) said it "understands that the passengers are pilgrims
managed by a local travel agency, Abu Bakar Travel Services Private
Limited".
Most of the 31 passengers are Singaporeans.
Mr Mohamed Roslan Jaafar, honorary secretary of the Association
of Muslim Travel Agents of Singapore (Amtas), told TODAY that the
deceased is the travel agency's director Mohammad Abu Bakar Osman.
His wife is said to be in critical condition.
The injured have been sent to hospitals in Makkah to receive
medical attention, said Muis.
It added that Singapore's Consul-General in Jeddah, Syed
Muhammad Raziff Aljunied, has visited the injured at the King
Faisal Hospital.
"The Singapore Consulate in Jeddah will continue to provide the
necessary support to the injured and their families, as well as to
the deceased and his next of kin," said Muis.
"Muis would like to express our deepest sympathies to all the
pilgrims affected in the accident and is reaching out to their next
of kin to provide the necessary support."
In a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, Minister-in-charge of
Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said he was "deeply saddened" to hear
of the accident.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this
unfortunate incident," said the minister.
"Muis together with Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs are
doing their best to render all necessary assistance to those
affected and their families."
todayonline