Noordin Top's burial triggers media frenzy in Pontian

Arina Rochmah of Indonesia, one of the widows of Asia’s most wanted militant Noordin Mohammad Top who was shot dead in a raid in Solo, carries her daughter after viewing her husband’s body at a mortuary in Jakarta October 1, 2009


The family of Asia’s most wanted terrorist Noordin Mat Top, killed by Indonesian security forces in Central Java recently, today began making preparations for his burial in his village here.

Noordin’s sister-in-law Ubaidah Salimon, 49, said family members had started arriving at their ancestral home in Kampung Kayu Ara Pasong, here, to await the arrival of Noordin’s remains from Indonesia.

“His body is expected to arrive any time now. Some of his siblings and other close relatives started gathering here two to three days ago and more will be arriving,” she said. Ubaidah said the family hoped that the return of Noordin’s remains would be smooth and that they would hold tahlil for his departed soul for three consecutive days.

She said her late brother-in-law was expected to be buried at the Kampung Melayu Pontian Besar Kiri Muslim cemetery, next to the grave of her husband, Arif, who died two weeks ago.

“Since Noordin’s death has received wide media coverage, many of our neighbours, relatives and friends have been contacting me. Those who visited us during Hari Raya also enquired about Noordin’s death and extended their condolences to our family,” she added.

Meanwhile, seen was a marquee erected at the cemetery, where the Islamist militant will be interred, about 150 metres away from the family home.

Scores of local and foreign journalists have started arriving in this town since yesterday, and this afternoon they were seen gathering at the cemetery area in anticipation of Noordin’s funeral.

Noordin, who headed Jemaaah Islamiyah’s radical splinter group known as Tandzim Al-Qoidah Indonesia, was shot dead by Indonesian security forces at a militant hideout in Solo, Central Java, on Sept 17, ending a six-year hunt for the fugitive Islamist militant. The former accountant was said to be responsible for planning and carrying out a series of bombing in Indonesia, including at the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in July, which left nine people dead.