Double Six tragedy: 'The government needs to ask Australia to issue a full report' - Former Sabah Chief Minister

Double Six tragedy: 'The government needs to ask Australia to issue a full report' - Former Sabah KM
ASTRO AWANI

Datuk Yong Teck Lee urged the government to ask Australia to issue a full report on the 'Double Six' air crash. - Yong Teck Lee Official Facebook picture

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Yong Teck Lee urged the government to ask Australia to issue a full report on the 'Double Six' air crash.

According to the former Chief Minister of Sabah, this is because the reason used by the National Archives of Australia in withholding the publication of the full report is that "the release of information is expected to damage the Commonwealth's international relations."

He said, other reasons include 'Malaysia has not yet released the final and full investigation report publicly'.

"The National Archives of Australia named the report as 'Accident Malaysia Nomad Aircraft 9M-ATZ on 6 June 1976'.

"In two replies to my representative dated 14 March 2012, the National Archives of Australia have stated that "their records contain technical details that may affect the current relationship of the Commonwealth (Australia) with foreign governments". In this case, the foreign country means Malaysia and not others.

"Furthermore, both the Malaysian and Australian reports must be published in full. This is because the National Archives of Australia has also revealed that "certain parts of the text have been deleted" ie deleted.

"The reply from the Australian archives revealed that a total of 110 folios were withheld from publication and each folio contained more than one page," he said in a statement, on Thursday.

Teck Lee said, only the release of the full report in Malaysia and Australia can close this very painful chapter in Sabah's history.

Australia is involved in the investigation of the GAF - Nomad aircraft accident that crashed in the waters of Sembulan, on June 6, 1976 and killed 11 individuals including the Chief Minister of Sabah at the time, Tun Mohd Fuad Stephen.

Australia's investigation in the case follows the fact that the aircraft operated by the Sabah Air airline was made by the country in question.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the Federal Cabinet's decision to declassify the final report of the crash investigation which is expected to be revealed next week.