Adenan: Be strong even in this difficult time

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KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem calls on Sarawakians to remain strong in this difficult time, especially over the loss of MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

He said his heart went all out to the Sarawakian family of six, who were among the 298 people on board the passenger jet, that perished in the incident.

“The family – both parents and their four children – perished in the incident. Just four months ago, MH370 went missing and is yet to be found to this day.

“This morning (Friday), when there was news about Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight, I thought it was about the missing MH370, but turned out to be MH17. We all feel the pain of losses, yet we need to stay strong,” he said at the ‘Nur Qaseh Ramadan’, which was hosted by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Friday.

Before the breaking of fast, some 1,000 people, including dignitaries, government officers, senior citizens, children and the media, observed a moment of silence for the victims of MH17.

Adenan described 2014 as a sad year for the country given the two ill-fated MAS jetliners as well as the terrorist intrusions in Sabah.

He, however, was relieved to note that Sarawakians had been reaching out to the less fortunate and the needy during this fasting month.

He believed some individuals had even provided assistance to the poor without seeking publicity, albeit having read in the newspapers that many corporations and organisations had done so too.

“Let’s make it a culture of ours to spread cheers to all including the less fortunate and the needy during Ramadan. We shall continue to sympathise with people who are not as fortunate as we are.”

He added that it would be more heart-warming if the community could do charity not just during Ramadan but all year through.

Earlier, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said she was extremely shocked by the downing of MH17.

She extended condolences to the families and friends of those on board the flight en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Rohani said the ministry had dispatched 20 counsellors to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to offer support for the affected families while she herself had personally visited the victims’ family in Semariang.

“In this month of Ramadan, we shall all come together to uphold the humanitarian spirit.”

At the function, the ministry handed out assistance to 537 individuals including the physically challenged, senior citizens, orphans and residents of welfare institutions and organisations.

Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu and Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah were among those at the function.