KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23- Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the involvement of the people throughout the country in the Day of National Mourning on Friday was very extraordinary and remarkable.
Expressing his satisfaction over the role and coverage of the media on this historical day, he said that although the special ceremony in conjunction with the Day of National Mourning to honor the Malaysian victims in the MH17 tragedy was only centred at the KL International Airport, it was also be felt and appreciated by people across the country.
“Although it was based at the airport, the movement of the coffins carrying the remains of the victims to several states received extensive involvement from the people, and this is indeed extraordinary.”It reflects it is not the vehicles or hands that are doing the moving but it is our hearts which shows that we are very united,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
After 37 days of the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 which was shot down in Ukraine on July 17, the remains of 20 of the 43 Malaysians who were on board the ill-fated airliner arrived home today.
A special military ceremony to honour them, a first for civilians, was held at the Bunga Raya Complex, KLIA, upon the arrival of the coffins bearing their remains from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Friday morning.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah who were joined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
On the ceremony to receive the remains of other Malaysian victims from Amsterdam this Sunday, Ahmad Shabery said it would the same except that Sunday would not be declared as another Day of National Mourning.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai was reported as saying that the remains of three other Malaysian victims of the tragedy were expected to be flown back on Sunday.According to him, the Dutch authorities had given the clearance for the remains of two of the victims to be brought back while approval for the third victim is still pending.
– BERNAMA
