KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22- The line-up stretching more than 100 kilometres by Dutch nationals to honour the arrival of the remains of the MH17 crash victims at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, was among the experiences that deeply touched the hearts of the journalist and photographer of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) when covering the MH17 incident in Ukraine and Holland.
For the Head of the Bernama Crime Desk, Mohd Razman Abdullah and photographer, Zulkarnain Kamaruddin, the 17-day experience in covering the tragedy would be something that is difficult to forget.
They made the coverage in Ukraine from July 18 to 25, and July 26 to Aug 4 in Holland.
“Although they had no family ties with the victims, they showed solidarity and were willing to line up along the route from Hilversum to Amsterdam when the remains were brought from Ukraine on July 23,” said Zulkarnain when he became a guest in the Special Programme on the Day of National Mourning hosted by Mazidul Dani and produced by Bernama TV, here Thursday.
The government today issued a list of 20 remains of Malaysian victims of the MH17 tragedy that would arrive at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport (KLIA) for the ceremony to honour the victims tomorrow.
“I am impressed by the spirit shown by the Dutch people in facing the incident and it should be something that we should emulate,” he said.The flight MH17 was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine near the Russian border on July 17.
The Boeing 777-200 aircraft was carrying 298 people including 15 crew members, when it was believed to have been shot down although no one had claimed responsibility for the heinous act yet.
There were 195 Dutch nationals and 43 Malaysian nationals on board the ill-fated aircraft.Meanwhile, Mohd Razman said the experience of being followed by security men round the clock and fasting for up to 18 hours a day were among the challenges that they had to face.
Mohd Razman said the security factor was most emphasised by the Ukraine security agency as the nation was facing uncertainties due to the conflict between the government and the rebel group.
“While staying at a hotel in Kiev, the Ukraine government placed its security forces at every floor to monitor the movement of the media practitioners and the special delegation from Malaysia.
“In addition, when arriving at the Kiev International Airport in Ukraine, we were advised against taking photographs and uploading any picture at the airport into the social website as this could be considered as intelligence information,” he said.
He hoped that all Malaysians would give their respects to the remains of the victims when they arrive tomorrow.
– BERNAMA
