KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — The government has decided that the national flag be flown at half-mast throughout the country beginning tonight until Monday (July 21) following the tragedy that befell the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 that was believed to have been shot down in Ukraine yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he had already informed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah about the tragic incident. Speaking in a special message — MH17 Accident, which was carried live on RTM1, Najib called on all Malaysians, particularly the Muslims, regardless of their political ideology, to perform the ‘hajat’ prayer.
The Prime Minister said Malaysians of other races were also encouraged to hold their own prayers according to their respective beliefs. He said the government also expressed great sadness and regret over the tragedy that befell the passengers and crew of the ill-fated aircraft.
Thus, he said, the government also wished to record its deepest sympathy and condolences to all family members, friends and acquaintances of the victims of the tragedy.
People hold candles as they observe a minute of silence during a candlelight vigil for victims aboard MAS Flight MH17, near Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
People take pictures of an MH17 sign during a candlelight vigil near Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Xephora Sarah Azzahra looks at pictures of her grandmother Sri Siti Amirah, who was killed on MAS flight MH17 which crashed in Ukraine, in Putrajaya July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
A woman signs a condolence register for the victims of the downed MAS Flight MH17, in the City Hall of Amsterdam July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Eline Op de Coul, who lost five colleagues aboard MAS Flight MH17, signs a condolence register in the City Hall of Amsterdam July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Churchgoers observe one minute of silence after lighting some 298 candles, representing the victims of the crashed MAS Flight MH17 plane, before a mass in the Saint Bavo cathedral in Haarlem July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
OSCE monitors walk near a refrigerator wagon, which according to employees and local residents contains bodies of passengers of the crashed MAS flight MH17, at a railway station in Torez, July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Railway employees are pictured as they work near refrigerator wagons, which according to employees and local residents contain bodies of passengers of the crashed MH17, at a railway station in Torez, July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Members of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry work at a crash site of MAS Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove, Donetsk region July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Armed pro-Russian separatists stand guard at a crash site of MAS Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove, Donetsk region July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Mementos placed at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 are pictured near the settlement of Rozspyne in the Donetsk region July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
St Jan Cathedral is filled with people attending the evening vigil for those who were killed in Thursday's Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane crash, in Den Bosch July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
People attending an evening vigil sign the condolence register at St Jan Cathedral for those who were killed in Thursday's Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane crash, in Den Bosch July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
A local resident stands near flowers and mementos placed at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the settlement of Rozspyne in the Donetsk region July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Flowers and mementos lie on wreckage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Members of the Ukrainian Emergency Ministry carry a body at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Members of the Ukrainian Emergency Ministry carry a body at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
An Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitor photographs the village sign at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Flowers and mementos placed at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 are pictured near the settlement of Rozspyne in the Donetsk region July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
Flowers and mementos lie on wreckage at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region July 20, 2014. — Reuters pic
The crowd having a moment of silence at the candlelight vigil held in solidarity with the MH17 victims. ― Picture by Choo Choy May
YB Teo Nie Ching (left) seen here with Lim Kit Siang (second left) and other DAP leaders at the candlelight vigil held in solidarity with the MH17 victims. ― Picture by Choo Choy May
A relative of MH17 crash victim Nur Shazana Mohamed reads the Quran at the ‘Majlis Bacaan Yasin and Tahlil’ organised by her close friends at the Tuanku Mizan Mosque in Putrajaya, July 19, 2014. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
A man writes messages on a dedication board for the victims of downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in Kuala Lumpur July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (left) arrives with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai for a meeting, at a hotel near KLIA, July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
A woman looks at a Malaysia Airline aircraft sitting on the tarmac at a viewing gallery in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Members of the Australian Ukrainian community hold placards at a Sydney rally July 19, 2014, demanding Russian President Vladimir Putin be banned from the G20 Summit. — Reuters pic
The national flag is pictured flying at half-mast to mourn the passengers of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
Members of the Australian Ukrainian community prepare to lay a wreath for those killed in the crash of flight MH17, at the Ukrainian Catholic church in Sydney July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
A member of the Australian Ukrainian community cries during a prayer vigil for those killed in the MH17 crash, at the St Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic church in Sydney July 19, 2014. — Reuters pic
An Australian national flag and a New South Wales state flag (top) fly at half-mast atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge on July 19, 2014, as a sign of respect for those killed in flight MH17. — Reuters pic
Passengers’ belongings are pictured at the crash site of flight MH17 before a visit by Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors, near Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors speak with a pro-Russian separatist at the MH17 crash site, near Grabovo, Donetsk region, July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic
A pro-Russian separatist holds a stuffed toy found at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic
Pro-Russian separatists look at passengers’ belongings at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic
“It is hoped that everyone will be patient and strong in facing this severe challenge,” he said.
Yesterday, the MAS flight, MH17, was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Ukraine. It was carrying 298 people — 283 passengers and 15 crew.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said early today that Ukrainian authorities believe that the Boeing 777, which also carried 43 Malaysian nationals including two infants, was shot down.
The MH17 was reported to have left Amsterdam at 12.15 pm (Netherlands time) Thursday and was to have arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10 am (Malaysian time) yesterday (Friday).
MAS, on July 18, has confirmed it received notification from Ukrainian ATC (air traffic control) that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border. — Bernama