KUCHING: A meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur on how to manage the bodies of those killed on Malaysian Airline (MAS) flight MH17 as well as arrangement for government assistance for next-of-kin and families.
Rohani seated (centre) and her ministry staff at the press conference. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
“My job now is to fulfil the wishes of the family of the MH17 victims on how to manage the dead bodies when they arrive in Malaysia,” Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim told a press conference after her ministry’s Hari Raya open house at Dewan Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’Adzam Shah here yesterday.
“The government is ready to render any form of assistance to the next-of-kin and families of 43 Malaysian passengers and 15 crew members. As of this moment the bodies are being identified which can take weeks or months and is not an easy task,” Rohani said.
Their job is to get in touch with the next-of-kin on how the bodies would be managed when they arrive in Malaysia.
Some wanted them buried in their hometowns, cremated or left the matter to the authorities to decide.
“One of the requests was not to have the coffin sealed and also to have the next-of-kin flown to Amsterdam to help identify (via DNA) and accompany the bodies and personal belongings home,” Rohani said.
Rohani revealed tht 30 DNA experts were helping out in the identification.
The late Tambi Jiee, 49, and his wife and four children are to be buried at the Muslim cemetery in Semariang, while Meling Mula’s case will need further discussion as Meling is from Betong and his wife from Bintulu.
Tambi’s eldest brother Drahman Jiee who was present at the press conference thanked the government for their assistance and hoped the nightmare would be over soon.
Forty-three Malaysians were among the 298 passenger who perished in the air tragedy in Ukraine. The plane was enroute to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam on July 17. Out of that, 15 were MAS crew members and most of the passengers (193) from the Netherlands.
As the ministry’s VIP guests at the open house, Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem and wife Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu gave words of encouragement to the next-of-kin of MH17 victims attending the function.