KUCHING: Today the whole nation will observe a minute of silence between 10.30am and 11.30am in remembrance of the 238 passengers and 15 crew members of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 which was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near the city of Donetsk in Ukraine on July 17.
A student of a higher learning institution signing a banner in remembrance of the victims of MH17 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — Bernama photo
The location for the official state-level Majlis Tafakur (or moment of silence) will be at Medan Niaga Satok here.
Those who will be joining in this poignant show of respect for the victims are expected to gather at the location at about 10am.
During the minute of silence, everyone is expected to stop what they are doing and motorists are urged to stop their vehicles to offer a silent prayer for those who perished in the flight.
The Information Department said yesterday the simultaneous moment of silence throughout the nation would be announced over radio and television.
The Majlis Tahlil for the victims will be held at Level 17 of Sarawak Islamic Complex at Jalan P Ramlee here.
At about 2.30pm, bodies of two victims Ariza Ghazalee, 46 – wife of 49-year-old victim Tambi Jee from Kampung Goebilt near here – and their son Muhammad Afif, 19, will arrive at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) base here from Kuala Lumpur.
They were among the seven passengers from Sarawak on board the ill-fated flight.
The remains of Tambi and his three other children Mohd Afzal, 19, Marsha Azmeena, 15 and Mohd Afruz, 13, as well as that of another Sarawak vicitim Meling Mula from Sg Plan Bintulu are still being verified.
Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem will be among the state dignitaries waiting for the arrival of the two bodies at the TUDM base here.
They will proceed to the Masjid Jamek in Petra Jaya for prayers before going to the funeral service at Semariang Muslim cemetery here around 3.30pm.
The cortege will travel from TUDM base to the cemetery through Kuching Sentral U-Turn, Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Jalan Tun Jugah, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Marican Salleh, Jalan Tun Salahuddin and the toll bridge, Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdillah roundabout (near old DUN complex), the roundabout near Sesco building, Jalan Stadium, Jalan Pustaka, Jalan Masjid Jamek before stopping at the Masjid Jamek, Petra Jaya.
Yesterday, personnel of the Malaysian Army rehearsed the rites for the funeral service of Ariza and Muhammad Afif.
They and several staff of Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Masjid Negeri Sarawak (LAKMNS) were also at Masjid Jamek Petra Jaya for rehearsal.