Man who narrowly escapes Jalan Masjid India sinkhole converts to Islam

SHAH ALAM - A man who narrowly escaped a sinkhole that swallowed a tourist in Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur has embraced Islam, three days after the incident.

This was confirmed by the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim).

The man, Haridath, who was previously known as Kalidass, converted to Islam under Abim's guidance at the Islamic Outreach Abim Centre (IOAC) at Masjid Negara.

Abim president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin said the man had wanted to embrace Islam for a long time.

"He came fully prepared, even arriving with two witnesses who were his acquaintances.

"The sinkhole incident which occurred on Aug 23, became a significant moment for him, leading him to decide not to delay his decision any longer," Fahmi said.

On Aug 26, the man recited the Shahadah (declaration of faith in one God (Allah)) and changed his name to Haridath.

Fahmi also urged the public to respect Haridath’s privacy as it was a person's natural right to embrace faith.

"Abim requests that everyone gives this new brother some space to be at peace, respects his privacy and prays for his well-being.

"Abim invites all Muslims to continue spreading the beauty of Islam, thereby enhancing faith and piety towards Allah," Fahmi added.

On Aug 23, a video from a closed circuit television (CCTV) on the street showed the moment a 48-year-old woman who was a tourist from India falling into a sinkhole along Jalan Masjid India.

In the video, during the incident, Haridath who was sitting on a bench was also seen falling into the sinkhole to his waist.

However, he was able to pull himself back up to the ground with the help of bystanders.

The victim who fell into the sinkhole was later identified as Vijayaletchumy.

The authorities believed that the woman was swept into the underground sewer tunnels after the fall as waters gushed due to recent heavy rain.

The search and rescue mission for Vijayaletchumy is still ongoing.