Bodies of mother and son buried with military honours as thousands bid farewell to MH17 victims
The State Imam leading prayers for the deceased at the mosque. Adenan is seen at fourth left.
KUCHING: The bodies of Ariza Ghazalee and her eldest son Muhammad Afif Tambi received the final respects at Jamek State Mosque upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur yesterday afternoon.
Hearses carrying their coffins arrived at the mosque around 3:30pm. The coffins were carried into the mosque for the prayers for the deceased (Solat Jenazah), which was led by State Imam Datuk Jorji Suhaili.
Family members were seen comforted by their friends and acquaintances when they reached the mosque.
An estimated 1,500 people were present at the mosque, including Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem and his wife Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu.
Adenan avoided commenting on the funeral when approached by reporters.
“The nation is united in grief. Our tears speak for themselves,” he said.
Many State Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers were also present, including Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg; Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong; Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah; Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Islamic Affairs Assistant Minister Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Early Childhood Education Assistant Minister Rosey Yunus, Welfare Assistant Minister Robert Lawson Chuat and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
Other dignitaries who arrived to pay their last respects included Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.
Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Putit Matzen, Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo, Stampin MP Julian Tan and SUPP secretary-general Dr Sim Kui Hian were among the familiar faces spotted.
Representatives from political parties, government agencies and NGOs who were also present.
The prayers were recited by around 4.30pm and the bodies were brought to the Semariang Muslim Cemetery for burial.
Meanwhile, more than a thousand people gathered at the cemetery as early as 3.30pm to perform prayers and pay their last respects to the crash victims.
Ariza and Afif were among six family members of Tambi Jiee, 49, who were onboard flight MH17 together with their other children Afzal, 17, Marsha, 15, and Afruz, 13.
The cortege which arrived at the cemetery at 4.53pm was given military honours.