PUTRAJAYA: The cancellation of the cabinet ministers’ 2014 Aidilfitri open house is an important message to the world that Malaysians are united and share the sorrow of the family members of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 crash victims.
Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said it was a signal to the world that it was a big incident that was very unfortunate not only for the Malaysian victims but also for every Malaysian.
“It is inappropriate for us to be in a merry mood, celebrating as normal when the victims’ bodies are waiting for post-mortem and so forth,” he told reporters after announcing the lDigital Malaysia “State of the Digital Economy” Update here yesterday.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced on Thursday that the cabinet ministers’ open house event in conjunction with 2014 Aidilfitri at the Seri Perdana Complex, Putrajaya was cancelled as a mark of respect to those who perished in the flight MH17 crash.
The cabinet also agreed to cancel the 2014 Malaysia Aidilfitri open house, organised by the Tourism and Culture Ministry scheduled to be held in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.
Ahmad Shabery also urged Malaysians to be present at the KL International Airport in Sepang or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang when the remains were brought back from the Netherlands as a mark of condolence.
“We want to show the world that Malaysians are united and are together in sadness from this loss at the highest level.
“The world must know and not allow those responsible to get away,” he said.
Ahmad Shabery said the government also had yet to make any decision on the Merdeka celebration following the MH17 incident. — Bernama