Penangites mourn victims of flight MH17
Some 500 people gathered at the lobby of the state government centre in Komtar, Penang, this morning to partake in the official mourning for the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state executive councillors joined the crowd in observing a minute's silence after the remains of 20 Malaysian victims arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Amsterdam.
The portraits of Penangite Jenny Loh Yan Hwa, who operated a restaurant in the Netherlands, her mother Tan Siew Poh and husband Fan Shun Po – all on board the ill-fated plane on July 17 – were placed below a giant screen that showed the live telecast of the ceremony to receive the bodies at KLIA.
In his speech, Lim paid tribute to all the victims, including other Penangites: stewardess Nur Shazana Mohamed Salleh, steward Sanjid Singh Sandhu, Captain Eugene Choo Jin Leong, Azrina Yaakob and Elaine Teoh.
Also present at the ceremony were relatives of Loh and Tan, along with a crowd that included civil servants, citizens and tourists who spent their time observing and paying respects.
The event also saw Muslim prayers recited by Penang mufti Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor, followed by a Buddhist prayer.
The Boeing 777-200 which carried 298 people including the 15 all-Malaysian crew crashed after being reportedly shot down by a missile over conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine.
The flight had departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm local time and was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10am, Malaysian time on July 18.
Lim said the grief and sadness expressed in Malaysia had been followed by heavy condemnation of the party responsible for the crash, which he said was without humanity and conscience. He noted that the victims included three infants.
He also said the episode should be taken as a lesson so that such incidents would not occur again.
"It is apt that we refrain from acts of cruelty and ensure the camaraderie and unity among all the people and races, especially in Malaysia," he said, adding that togetherness was vital to heightening the nation's development.
He later told a press conference that the state government was ready to provide official support when Loh's remains arrived in Penang for her funeral at a later date, and was willing to accord similar treatment for any of the other victims whose remains were found and whose families wished for them to be laid to rest in the state. – August 22, 2014.
