Trauma of MH370 victims’ children

KUALA LUMPUR: Many may not know the trauma the children of passengers of the ill-fated MH370 had to go through each time their names were mentioned in the media.
Lawyer Datuk S. Arunan, who represented the passengers’ next of kin, told theSun that some of the school-going children had to change schools due to the unwanted attention.
The repeated reminders about the tragedy and their loss of parents by their school mates were also very traumatising.
“Their whole life has changed due to the tragedy," he said.
“They could not stand the harassment and the intrusion into their lives,” said Arunan.
Although the media was doing its job, it had affected the lives of the next of kin, especially when their names appeared in the media.
“Each time the MH370 news hit the print and electronic media, the next of kin are approached for their reactions and comments.
“It is difficult for them to put the past behind,” said Arunan.
It was even more difficult when the media kept asking them if they had any answers to the disappearance.
“How are they to explain when they themselves are waiting for some answers?” he asked.
It is time that their privacy is respected, especially the children who have lost their parents.
Arunan said while the authorities are doing their best to solve the MH370 disappearance, the media should leave the next of kin alone to overcome their grief and loss.
MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014 after taking off from Kuala Lumpur to fly to Beijing with 239 people on board.