SEPANG: The official ceremony to honour the victims of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy will go on, even if it rained.
Chief of Defence Forces Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (left) briefs (from second left) Muhyiddin, Hishammuddin and Ahmad Shabery during the full rehearsal on the ceremony to honour victims of the MH17 tragedy. — Bernama photo
“Rain or shine, the event must go on,” Defence Ministry head of public affairs, Lieutenant-Colonel Bakhtiar Nur Md Allias said.
All preparations to receive the first batch of 20 Malaysian victims of the July 17 plane tragedy had been taken care of, he told a media briefing prior to the full rehearsal of the ceremony at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport (KLIA), here yesterday.
The sombre occasion will be graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah, dignitaries as well as the next-of-kin of the victims.
Bakhtiar said a total of 300 military personnel from 12 Malaysian Infantry Brigade would be on duty to ensure the remains, which will be flown home aboard a special MAS 747 aircraft, was treated with utmost dignity.
“After the caskets (and urns) are brought to the waiting hearses, the master of ceremonies (emcee) will announce the start of the one-minute silence before the hearses are driven past the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Bakhtiar said.
Flight MH17 carrying 298 people, including 43 Malaysians, crashed over eastern Ukraine while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
As a mark of respect for victims of the crash, today has been declared a Day of National Mourning.
Bakhtiar said as of now two military aircraft and five helicopters were put on standby to fly out the remains to several locations in the country, including Sarawak.
To ensure a smooth operation, strict protocol would be applied, even among the media personnel and the media have been asked to not interview the next-of-kin of the victims.
Meanwhile, Information director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman at the same briefing reminded media personnel to follow the rules accordingly since it would be a full military ceremony.
Appropriate dress-code in the form of dark-coloured attire for media representatives should also be observed, he added. — Bernama