BUTTERWORTH: The federal government has sponsored RM50,000 to the five Bangkok blast victims as air freight charges to airlift their remains back to Malaysia.
Represented by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mah Siew Keong said the contribution, at RM10,000 per victim would be borne by the administration.
"The government is saddened with their losses and our hearts go to the victims' family members.
"The act (bombing) is barbaric and the consequence is so disturbing ...I am moved to tears as they are forced to put up brave faces in facing the tragedy.
Mah, who is also Gerakan president and Teluk Intan member of parliament, visited the house of victims Lee Tze Liang, 33 and his daughter Jing Xuan to pay his last respects in the morning.
He said the blast survivor and Lee's wife Neoh Ee Ling, 33, had been coping well with the loss.
"I consoled Ee Ling yesterday upon her arrival from Bangkok and she confided in me that the blast wave had impaired the hearing in her right ear.
"She has since sought treatment at a hospital in Bangkok and will continue getting medical help should the hearing impairment persist," he said.
Ee Ling, who is five-month pregnant and clad in black T-shirt and shorts was seen at the wake in Taman Cengal. She appeared to be composed despite the loss.
The widow was seen consoling her son, Lee Jian Heng, 6, as the photos of her departed husband and daughter were set up at the wake in Lorong Cengai 4. Jian Heng did not travel with the seven members to the ill-fated Bangkok trip.
Both the remains of father and daughter will be cremated tomorrow.
The other two victims who died were Ee Ling's mother Lim Saw Gek, 49, and her son Jai Jun, 20. Their remains have been placed at their house in Taman Dedap nearby.
The four remains arrived at the Penang International Airport cargo terminal from Bangkok about 11pm yesterday.
The remains of fifth and final victim , Lim Su See,52, will arrive in late evening today via the same route.
Su See, a divorcee was the elder sister of Saw Gek and her house is located along the same street at Lorong Dedap 8.
The five victims were killed in the bomb blast about 7pm (8pm Malaysian time) at the Ratchaprasong junction near the Erawan Shrine and shopping centres in Bangkok on Monday.
