IPOH, July 12 — This Sunday will mark two years to the day since the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 was shot down and crashed in Eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.
Even though the Dutch Safety Board in its final report tabled last October confirmed that a Buk missile brought down the Boeing 777 in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, families of the victims are still wondering who should be held responsible for the crime?
Noor Aini Mohd Noor, 60, for one, is extremely curious to know who shot down the aircraft and caused the death of her elder sister Noor Rahimmah who was looking forward to celebrate Aidilfitri in their hometown for the first time after being away for 35 years.
“What I want from MAS is a conclusion, the truth on who caused the tragedy and the mastermind behind it. We can accept the fact she is gone as fate, but we want a definite answer,” she told Bernama when met recently.
Noor Rahimmah, one of 43 Malaysians who died in the tragedy, had worked as a secretary at the Malaysian Embassy in Germany and was also an interpreter in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to Noor Aini, she received an email from MAS (now known as Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB)) a few days ago, informing her that the airline company had yet to come to any conclusion on who the responsible parties were.
“All I could do was just read the message and hope for an answer some day,” she said.
She was, however, grateful that the Malaysian government helped with the arrangements to bring home the remains of her sister and the other Malaysians involved.
Noor Aini said before the tragedy, her sister, the second of 14 siblings, was very excited and counting the days to meeting everyone in a family gathering.
“She called every week to ask how her siblings were getting along as she was very concerned for our wellbeing. She was like a mother to us as our parents are no longer around.
“Before she boarded the plane, she told us to wait for her to have the family gathering, it is such a painful memory because we never expected to receive her remains instead,” she said in tears.
Meanwhile, their youngest sibling, Norlin, 49, said she treasured the moments spent with her sister and would always remember her as caring and humble person.
“We were very close because I’m the youngest and she always pampered me...but now, there is nothing that can fill the void she left. “I really want to know who did it, I am sure we are not the only family who were still seeking for answers and crying for justice,” she added. — Bernama
