Two More Bodies To Arrive On Tuesday
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 07 September 2014 09:31
Pic: NSTBANGI: TWO more bodies of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 victims are expected to arrive at the Bunga Raya Complex of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Tuesday, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim yesterday.
She said the bodies of one Muslim victim and one non-Muslim victim would be flown from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, tomorrow.
“The names of the two victims will be released on Monday. A press conference will be held at the Bunga Raya Complex.
“At present, family members of the two victims are already in Amsterdam,” she said, adding that the bodies of another 10 victims had yet to be flown back.
On a related matter, Rohani apologised to the media and victims’ families in light of an incident where a New Straits Times photographer, Aizuddin Saad, was allegedly punched in the face by an individual when he was covering the funeral of three MH17 victims at the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Sungai Besi on Tuesday.
Rohani said the level of respect between the media and next of kin had been good throughout the coverage of MH17 victims.
“I didn’t expect this to happen, as we’ve already had three public ceremonies. I understand how the families feel and I understand how the media works for national news.”
She said counselling sessions for family members were ongoing.
“So far, we have counselled 16 families through 40 sessions. At the initial stage, the focus was on emotional support.
“However, the concern has shifted to the social welfare of the family members, especially those who have lost their sole breadwinners.”
Rohani said her ministry would assist in such cases or refer them to other ministries.
She was speaking after the groundbreaking for upgrading works at Putra Hill Residency in Bandar Seri Putra here. Present was United Malayan Land Bhd group chief executive officer Charlie Chia Lui Meng.
- NST
