MH370 Penangites have come together to fold paper cranes and offer prayers for passengers and crew and their families as the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 enters its ninth day.
Hundreds of colourful paper cranes lined the front of the Whiteaways building in the morning event, organised by Occupy Beach Street, which saw many, including tourists and politicians, show their solidarity with the victims of the missing plane.
MH370 carrying 239 passengers and crew disappeared on March 8, shortly after taking off from KLIA en route to Beijing.
“As we continue to search for the plane, we want to give the public a place to express themselves and to declare their solidarity with the passengers and their families,” said Jack Wong, spokesperson for Occupy Beach Street project.
“At the same time, we provide lessons on how to fold the paper cranes, which are symbols of peace all over the world,” he added.
“The cranes are made of recycled paper and hands-on training is provided by origami enthusiasts.” he said, when met at the event today.
An ancient Japanese legend promises that whoever folds a thousand origami cranes, which have become an international symbol of peace, their wish would be granted.
Occupy Beach Street is a project that sees the public, including activists, carry out various artistic activities along Penang’s financial district, Beach Street, which is free of cars on Sundays.
About 2,000 locals and tourists, visit the street every Sunday, and participate in the state government’s effort to promote public transport and address the island’s traffic congestion problem.
Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik ( left in photo ), who was spotted among the paper crane folders, said he joined the crowd to share his feelings with the victims of flight MH370.
Ng, who recently quit as Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s political secretary, is not giving up hope that the passengers might still be alive.
“We have mobilised our members in the DAP Socialist Youth to join in this effort,” said the wing’s state chief.
Solidarity effort
“There is a glimmer of hope that the passengers might still be alive so we hope our prayers will give them strength and power to come home as soon as possible,” he added.
“We don't want to politicise this tragedy but we do want to be part of the solidarity effort,” he stressed, as he learns how to fold a paper crane for the first time.
A tourist from Bangalore, India, Priya Prijana ( left in photo ), said it is nice to see all communities coming together for this effort.
Priya, 26, who works in the information technology field, said she is aware that there were two Indian nationals on board the plane.
“Nationalities ceases to matter when it comes to something like this. It is always a very tragic thing,” she told Malaysiakini .
“When I was flying from India to Malaysia, I was rather nervous about it but then these things don’t really happen,” added the tourist, who is on an eight-day visit to George Town, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.
“We need to pray for the strength of the families who had loved ones on board so that they have the strength to carry on,” added Priya, accompanied by her friend, Vandana Raman.
