KUALA LUMPUR: After two tragedies that befell Malaysia Airlines (MAS) within four months, members of the Dewan Rakyat yesterday generally showed unity to stand firmly behind the national carrier.
Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) said MAS should not be allowed to bear alone the burden of paying compensation to the families of victims of the latest tragedy.
“It (shooting down of airplane, flight MH17) did not happen in Malaysia’s airspace. It happened in Ukraine. We ask that the prime minister when speaking to the Attorney-General not to view the question of paying compensation as a small matter .
“If MAS is sued, we should sue back the parties responsible (for the air crash),” she said when debating on the MH17 tragedy at the special sitting of parliament, here.
Azalina said it was impossible for no party to be responsible if it was true that the MAS aircraft was shot down by a missile.
“There were many airplanes flying through that airspace but MAS (aircraft) became the victim. I say this is barbaric mass murder. Whether Russia or the Ukrainian separatists were responsible, the issue is who would be paying compensation to the families of the victims.”
Azalina also urged the government to enforce a ruling that government-linked companies and agencies give priority to MAS for flights to be taken.
“Give priority to MAS, its crew and staff. Give them bonus and allowance simultaneously. This is because they (crash victims) appear to mati syahid (died as martyrs). They died while on duty,” she said.
Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) urged the government and MAS to give attention to the airline’s staff who were experiencing emotional stress and trauma following the two tragic incidents involving MAS.
“Cabin crew members who are now emotionally unstable and scared of flying should be encouraged to rest and given counselling until they are emotionally back to normal,” she said.
Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) said DAP would continue to be supportive of MAS and was confident of continuing to use the airline’s services.
“As a mark of appreciation and support for MAS and its workforce, words aren’t enough, so we wish to demonstrate our confidence in the airline by continuing to use MAS, if the flight times allow it,” said Lim.
MH17, carrying 298 people including 44 Malaysians, was on its away from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on July 17, believed to be fired at by a missile.
On March 8, MH370 carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, disappeared from radar screens while over the South China Sea after leaving the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Beijing.
The flight is believed to have ended in the southern Indian Ocean, west of Perth, Australia. The search is ongoing while the aircraft’s disappearance is still a mystery.
Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan (BN-Keningau), meanwhile, urged those who blame MAS for the MH17 tragedy to stop the accusation. He said the MH17 tragedy was not something that anyone, including MAS staff, would ask for.
“The guilty ones are those who shot down the aircraft. MAS did not do anything wrong, so its unfair to blame MAS. Instead, we should feel sad for the MAS staff too as they have lost their friends in two incidents including the disappearance of MH370 a few months ago. — Bernama