Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir signing the “In Memory of MH17 and MH370” banner during the service.
KOTA KINABALU: The back-to-back tragedies over the last few months have brought Malaysia Airlines (MAS) crew and personnel closer to each other.
The shocking downing of MH17 on July 17, which followed the mysterious loss of MH370 just four months ago, has made them a stronger unit.
“The loss of colleagues, friends and loved ones who perished with hundreds of other passengers is not something they can easily forget, but such a loss has not left them defeated and resigned,” said Nur Hayati Aziz Rashid, regional manager for MAS in Sabah.
“We are going through this together,” she said as she joined members of the public in signing a banner to show moral support for MAS during a memorial service for those on board the ill-fated planes here yesterday.
Hayati who turned up at the service together with two MAS ground crew serving at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), said the tragedy that befell the two Boeing carriers still felt surreal and difficult to accept.
The support from the Malaysian public and the commitment to honour their fallen comrades by coming out of this calamity triumphantly keep them strong.
“We really appreciate the kindness that Gerakan showed by organizing this service,” she said, adding that she and her two colleagues knew a few of the crew members on board the ill-fated planes.
Asked if the incident had affected MAS businesses in Sabah, she said there had been no obvious increase or drop in the number of cancellations involving international flights at KKIA.
July 17 became another dark moment in MAS’ history when MH17 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam was shot down above the conflict-ridden Ukraine, when the world was still baffled and scrambling to find out what had happened to the still missing MH370.
The plane carrying 298 passengers and crew exploded after it was hit by a ground to air missile near the Russian border in southern Ukraine.
No one has claimed responsibility over the shooting so far.
Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth chief Cleyrance Lee Chen Peng, the organizer of the memorial service, said the event themed “Remembering MH17” was held to show moral support to MAS and the friends and families of those on board the plane.
He said the service was held with support from various organizations, mainly Chinese business chambers and non-governmental organizations.
“The banner will be left here for a few days to allow more people to give their signature before we bring it to Keningau. Then it will be sent to our headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to collect more signatures,” he said.
He also expressed hope that the government would take more concrete actions in working with international communities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice for the crime they have committed.
Mayor Datuk Abididin Madingkir was among the VIPs who attended the service. Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan, Gerakan Sabah liaison chairman Datuk Gordon Leong, Luyang assemblyman Dr Hiew King Chew and former State Attorney General Tan Sri Herman Luping.
Some 200 people joined the service where they laid flowers and lighted candles.