Bernama general manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong said the news agency’s staff were united in grief for the victims of Flight MH17 that went down in Ukraine on July 17.
“We are all in dark attire today and have gathered here as we join other Malaysians across the country to pay our respects to the victims by observing the moment of silence,” he said after the minute’s silence was observed at 10.54 am.
Bernama editor-in-chief Datuk Zulkefli Salleh said: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who were on board the ill-fated plane by gathering here today,” he said.
The one-minute silence was observed nationwide today after the remains of 20 of the 43 Malaysians killed in the tragedy were flown home from the Netherlands. The Malaysian government had declared today as a day of national mourning.
Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country.
Besides Malaysians, nationals from the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Canada and New Zealand were among the 298 people on board.
The remains of 30 Malaysian victims have been identified so far. All the remains recovered from the crash site in eastern Ukraine had been taken to the Netherlands for identification and other procedures.
Dutch nationals comprised the biggest number of the passengers on board the ill-fated plane.
— BERNAMA
