The second Malaysian reported missing in the Algerian hostage crisis at the gas facility complex in In Amenas, Algeria, has been confirmed dead, according to Wisma Putra.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement today that Tan Ping Wee was identified by the forensic team through his dental records as well as confirmation of his tattoo by his family.

Following the confirmation, Wisma Putra had immediately notified members of Tan's family, said the statement.

The Malaysian Embassy in Algiers and the JGC Corp are in the midst of arranging for the remains of Tan Ping Wee and Chong Chung Ngen, who was identified earlier, to be flown home as soon as possible.

Wisma Putra had earlier said that three of the five Malaysians working at the gas facility complex in In Amenas, Patrick Purait Awang, Lau Seek Chiang and K Ravi were safe.
130 gas facility staff taken hostage
Chiang and Ravi have since returned home while Patrick had voluntarily decided to remain in Algeria to assist in the search for his colleague.

During the incident which took place last week, a militant group held 130 Amenas OGPC staff from various countries, including five Malaysians.

The action was believed to be in retaliation against the Algerian government for allowing French fighter jets into its airspace to quell Muslim militants in Mali.
According to preliminary estimates by the Algerian authorities, 37 foreign hostages and 29 kidnappers died in the Islamist attack against the gas field and in the military operation that followed.
The hostage-takers were also demanding the release of Islamist prisoners.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A Kohilan Pillay said the two bodies are expected to arrive in Malaysia by Monday, if all the necessary documentation and forensic process was cleared.

"We are waiting for a few procedures to go through and once completed the remains of the two will arrive in about two days," he told Bernama when contacted.

- Bernama