PETALING JAYA, Nov 3 — The callous and insensitive act of some individuals dressing up as crew members and pilots from the still missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 for Halloween has caused anger and condemnation from various parties.
The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin said the union condemned the cheap publicity and deemed them as being insensitive considering the tragedy was a painful one to accept.
“Such jokes or innuendos should be refrained strongly because it may hurt the feelings of those who have lost their loved ones,” he said.
“Having a Halloween party depicting the MH370 or MH17 does not give a positive message because those are international tragedies involving many nations.”
Ismail said the individuals who were responsible should remove such photos from Facebook and Instagram before family members take legal action.
“Do not add salt to the wound as the families have suffered enough.”
The photographs, that appeared to be taken overseas, showed people in various costumes including as pilots looking dishevelled and carrying a model airplane with a sign saying they had found MH370.
There was also three women who dressed up as flight attendants with red paint on their faces. They all used hashtags like #mh370 and #malaysiaairline.
Maira Elizabeth Nari, 18, daughter of MH370 chief steward Andrew Nari said she did not really pay attention when she saw the postings but became angry when she realised what it was.
“When I paid attention and noticed the costumes, the only thing that came through my mind was ‘I found a place for them and it would be hell’. Those people think it’s really funny but it is not,” she said.
“The ill-fated flight wasn’t a joking matter and if they think this is a joke, they are sick. It is like Malaysians making fun of the World Trade Centre tragedy.”
Maira was not planning to take any legal action against them but they should know “what is right and what is wrong”.
Facebook users also went on a rampage to defend fellow grieving Malaysians.
Charles Everett on Facebook said: “These people don’t know the meaning of respect! Shame on them!”
