Photo Credit: The Star, Facebook
After an agonising 36-day wait, the first 20 identified victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 have arrived home to KLIA.
The flight from Amsterdam touched down just before 10am this morning and was accorded full honours by 300 military personnel, followed by a minute’s silence observed nationwide. This is the first time in Malaysian history that the deaths of civilians have been accorded full military honours and today has been declared a national day of mourning, with flags on all government buildings being flown at half-mast. Citizens are advised to wear black and those of Muslim faith have been asked to refrain from any festivities as a sign of respect to the victims and their families.
“We have done what we can in trying to include the people in paying their last respects, especially during the one minute of silence,” Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said last Wednesday.
The official ceremony was held at the Bunga Raya Complex grounds, attended by Prime Minister Najib, along with the families of the victims, following which the hearses went their separate ways to the cemeteries requested by the families. A somber and grief-stricken atmosphere was apparent, however, the ceremony hopefully brings some closure to the families as they lay their loved ones to rest.
“My prayers go out to the families who are waiting to receive their loved ones tomorrow #MH17,” said Najib.
Armed forces aircrafts will fly the bodies of two victims to the Kuching International Airport and those of three others to the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh, while two other victims will be flown by helicopter to Pagoh and Segamat in Johor.
Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims.
Following is a list of the victims who have returned to Malaysia on this first flight. Further victims will be flown home to KL in the coming days.
Crew:
1) Mastura Mustafa (F)
2) Ahmad HakimiHanapi (M)
3) Hamfazlin Sham Mohamed Arifin (F)
4) NurShazana Mohamed Salleh (F)
5) Dora ShahilaKassim (F)
6) Lee Hui Pin (F)
7) Angeline PremilaRajandaran (F)
8) Chong Yee Pheng (F)
9) AzrinaYakob (F)
Passengers:
1) Foo Ming Lee (M)
2) Karamjit Singh Karnail Singh (M)
3) Ng Qing Zheng (M)
4) Mabel Anthony Samy (F)
5) Paul Rajasingam / Sivagnanam (M)
6) Elisabeth Ng Lyeti (F)
7) ArizaGhazalee (F)
8) Muhammad AfifTambi (M)
9) Noor RahimmahMohd Nor (F)
10) Mohd Ali Md Salim (M)
11) HasniHardiParlan (M)
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