MH17: Remains of 20 M'sians to arrive on Friday

PUTRAJAYA: The remains of 20 Malaysians who perished in the MH17 tragedy will be flown home tomorrow.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said remains of 17 victims will be brought back in coffins and three in urns.
“We invite all assemblymen and MPs to attend the ceremony at Bunga Raya Complex," he said.
“Although there will be an increase in the number of bodies arriving, it will not jeopardise the template of the ceremony,” he told reporters at a press conference held at the Communications and Multimedia Ministry today.
He said the remains of a Dutch national will not arrive tomorrow as scheduled due to some reasons, which he did not disclose.
Also present at the press conference were Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Hishammuddin said the remains will be taken to their respective states for funeral rites.
“In Perak, the remains will be flown to Ipoh using C-130 aircraft, and in Johor, we will use EC725 helicopters to bring the bodies to Segamat and Pagoh.”
In Kuching, there will be additional flights to fly the remains, he added.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, to ask for His Majesty’s attendance at the ceremony.
“His Majesty has confirmed his attendance. In Perak, Sultan Dr Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah is expected to attend the ceremony in his state,” he said.
Hishammuddin said the name of the 20 victims will be released tomorrow.
He said preparations are also being made for the remains of the second batch of victims to arrive on Aug 24.
Meanwhile, Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek Shabery said a minute of silence will be held between 10.45am and 11.15am tomorrow.
“They (the public) are advised to stand up and pay their respect for one minute. Those in their offices, schools and even those driving are encouraged to observe the moment,” he added.

In Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government intends to telecast the event live on a screen in front of Maybank in Komtar.
In Sarawak, the state government is considering giving aid to the victims’ kin.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the remains would be taken to Masjid Jamek, Petra Jaya here for funeral prayers before being taken to the Semariang Muslim cemetery for burial.
Among the 43 Malaysians who perished in the tragedy 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.