Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was invited by the family of Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, 33, to lead the funeral prayer for the doctor at Al-Karomah Mosque in Kampung Baung, Kelantan, on Sunday.
Dr Ainul’s father, Kamarudin Salleh, 69, said Dzulkefly had previously promised to lead the funeral prayer when his daughter’s remains arrived in Kelantan.
“The Health Minister had promised to lead the funeral prayer for my daughter before she was brought home to Kelantan.
“This is a blessing for her,” he told reporters at Al-Karomah Mosque.
Dr Ainul was among five people killed in the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Miri, Sarawak.
The other victims were pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30; assistant medical officer Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and nurses Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44.
Kamarudin also expressed his appreciation to everyone who helped arrange the return of his daughter’s remains to Kelantan.
“Thank you to our relatives, friends and everyone who prayed for her.
“We deeply appreciate the support and prayers given to us, especially for her,” he said.
About 1,000 mourners attended the funeral prayer to pay their final respects.
Earlier, Dr Ainul’s remains and her family were flown back to Kelantan aboard a Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130H Hercules transport aircraft.
The remains arrived at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa at 11.21am on Sunday, allowing funeral prayers and burial arrangements to be carried out in her hometown.
