PETALING JAYA - The victims of a midair collision between two Malaysian Navy helicopters earlier this week in Peninsular Malaysia’s north-western state of Perak have been laid to rest.
The crash on April 23 claimed the lives of 10 officers who were in the aircraft during a rehearsal for a fly-past in Lumut in conjunction with the Navy’s 90th anniversary parade, which was scheduled for April 27.
Malaysia’s Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement on April 24 that the victims’ families would receive RM10,000 (S$2,800) in preliminary assistance and that donations from the public would go to a special fund set up by the ministry.
In addition, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will donate RM3,000 to the families of the victims, said its minister Nancy Shukri on April 25, after a prayer recitation for the victims.
Malaysia’s Higher Education Ministry, meanwhile, on April 23 announced assistance aimed at alleviating the burden faced by the victims’ families.
Among the initiatives is the provision of RM1,000 to each school-going child of the victims through a National Education Savings Scheme account. It added that the 21 school-going children of the victims have been identified.
The remains of one of the crash victims, Lieutenant T. Sivasutan, were cremated at Manjung Hindu Sabha Crematorium on April 25, after a prayer session at his home in Taman Serdang Jaya in Sitiawan, Perak.
Lt Sivasutan and his wife, a 31-year-old dentist, had just gotten married in January.
His wife had moved earlier this week to be nearer to her husband, said his cousin M. Sivanesan, 23.
“She was transferred to Teluk Intan and had just started work on April 22.
“Prior to that, she would travel to Lumut to be with Sivasutan every weekend,” said Mr Sivanesan, adding that Lt Sivasutan’s family members were heartbroken over his death.
“They still cannot accept that he is gone.”
Squadron 502 commanding officer, Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad, 44, was laid to rest at 12.30am on April 25 at Felcra Bukit Kepong Muslim Cemetery near Muar in the southern state of Johor.
The burial ceremony was carried out according to Navy tradition, led by Lieutenant Commander Mohd Hazwan Burhanuddin.
Commander Muhamad Amir’s father, Mr Mohamad Borak, 71, was presented with a Navy flag, as some 1,000 villagers turned up for the funeral.
Thousands of people also paid their last respects to Commander Muhammad Firdaus at Masjid Jamek Sungai Nibong Besar in Bayan Lepas, Penang, on April 24.
He had been piloting the AgustaWestland M503-3 helicopter with seven people on board.
When his remains arrived at the mosque at about 7.40pm, it was greeted with a guard of honour as Royal Malaysian Navy personnel stood in attention to salute their fallen comrade.
Commander Muhammad Firdaus was then laid to rest at 8.20pm.
Mr Khaled said: “The Cabinet also expressed its sympathies to the loss of 10 national heroes who had dedicated their lives to serve until the end of their lives.
“All the costs involved in the funeral arrangements as well as the flights for the families will be covered by the Armed Forces.”
Mr Khaled added that a board of inquiry that was established following the incident had been instructed to submit a preliminary report of the crash within 14 days.
He said a full report on the investigation into the crash must be submitted within 30 working days. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
