MH17 A Buddhist religious ceremony was held for the remains of five Malaysian victims of the Malaysia Airlines plane, flight MH17 crash, at a funeral home in The Hague this morning.
The ceremony at the Monuta Innemee building, S-Gravenhage started at 8am and was led by Buddhist priests in the presence of 100 family members of the victims and members of several local Buddhist associations.
Subsequently, the cremation of the remains took place in the town of Zoetermeer, located 26km from the funeral home.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wee Ka Siong said the ceremony went as planned.
“The families need not worry because it was conducted as agreed upon prior to this.
“We always endeavour to give the best and fulfil their requests,” he told the Malaysian media after the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the remains of two Malaysian victims of the aircraft tragedy - part of the first batch to arrive in Malaysia on Friday - are expected to be buried at the Muslim burial ground in Taman Selatan, Presinct 20 in Putrajaya.
Community Services Division in Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) senior deputy director Zailani Hashim said the remains of the two would be taken to the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin mosque for special prayers, following a ceremony to offer final respects to the victims at the Bunga Raya Complex in the KL International Airport (KLIA).
He said the prayers would be led by the chief imam of the mosque and buried after Friday prayers at the Muslim burial grounds in Presinct 20.
He said there was an 86.78 hectare burial ground for Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and others in Taman Selatan.
Zailani was speaking to reporters after attending a briefing on the burial of the victims at the Putrajaya Corporation Complex today.
The remains of the first batch of victims are due to arrive on Friday, which has been declared a Day of National Mourning, about 10am in a special aircraft from Amsterdam.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah is expected to attend the ceremony with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, cabinet ministers, menteris besar and chief ministers, as well as family members of the victims.
Remains of two to arrive in Kuching on Friday
In another development, the remains of two MH17 crash victims are expected to arrive at the Kuching Air Force (TUDM) base at 3pm on Friday.
Sarawak Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Daud Abdul Rahman said the two remains, to be accompanied by four family members, would be flown to Kuching by Charlie aircraft.
“The remains will be brought to Masjid Jamek, Petrajaya for prayers before being taken to the Muslim cemetery in Semariang for burial as soon they arrive.
“The public can gather at Masjid Jamek to take part in the prayers and pay their last respects,” he told a news conference after chairing a meeting on preparation to receive the remains at the TUDM base today.
Earlier he inspected the preparation, including a rehearsal that saw 16 military personnel carrying out two coffins from the Charlie aircraft before being brought to a waiting hearse.
Daud said Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister Adenan Satem and other state cabinet members were expected to be at the Masjid Jamek that afternoon.
He said the remains from Amsterdam were expected to arrive at the KL International Airport (KLIA) at about 10 am and would leave for Kuching two hours later after the ceremony to pay tribute to the flight MH17 crash victims at the Bunga Raya Complex, KLIA.
On that day, he said the Sarawak state flag would be hoisted at half mast like the Jalur Gemilang as a mark of mourning.
Previously the media reported that among those killed in the tragedy last July 17 were Tambi Jiee, 49, and his wife Ariza Ghazalee, 46, and their four children Muhammad Afif, 19, Muhammad Afzal, 19, Marsha Azmeena, 15 and Muhammad Afruz, 13, from Semariang.
Flight MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on July 17.
The Boeing 777-200, with its 298 passengers and crew was believed to have been shot down.
- Bernama
