King, Queen meet with families of Malaysian passengers, crew of ill-fated Flight MH17

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Tuanku Abdul Halim and Tuanku Hajah Haminah meet with Nurliana Yazeera Yazli (second left), daughter of MAS crew member Dora Shahila Kassim, at the Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, yesterday met with the next-of-kin of several of the Malaysian passengers and crew of the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17, at the Marriott Hotel here.

Their Majesties expressed their condolences to the relatives over the loss of their loved ones in the crash of the Boeing 777-200 in Ukraine on July 17 and conversed with them.

Tuanku Abdul Halim and Tuanku Hajah Haminah spent about 45 minutes with the 100 people from 30 families of the passengers and crew at the hotel.

Also present were Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

Earlier, Their Majesties were briefed on the crash by MAS director of Customer Services Datuk Mohd Salleh Tabrani.

A MAS representative said many of the families would return to their homes during the Aidilfitri holidays while the rest would remain at the hotel and await developments.

Bodies recovered from the crash site were being flown to the Netherlands for identification before being sent to the various countries. — Bernama