It seems that questioning, doubting and what more belittling every effort from government that crops from certain quarters are seen as normal and obligatory these days.
At a time when the whole world shared their sympathies and mourned for MH17 victims, these quarters went to the extent that is incomprehensible questioning that government spent too lavish preparing for victims of the ill-fated MH17 funeral rites and the ceremony at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
For God sake, the ceremony was so solemn and should any of us watched its live telecast, ask ourselves these questions - Did anyone seen a scene of lively parade floats?
Were there any luxury food served? The remains were carried by luxury transports? And is it a waste of tax payers money to broadcast them live?
Dato Wee Ka Siong, the minister incharged shared his experience.
He felt honored when entrusted by our Prime Minister not only due to his obligation but with cautious that this is a heartbreaking tragedy involves mixed feelings of grieve, agony and you just name it. Dato Wee is the men given the responsibility in ensuring smooth process of bringing back the remains of Malaysians.
Finally, a respectful homage granted from our government and accorded with military honours.
Arrangements identifying the victims' remains are all done in Amsterdam and we must understand that the procedures and regulations in the Netherlands are rigorous.
Netherlands is one country that complies to stringent working hours. Despite all that, Dato Wee managed to get them handled smoothly when first, second and third batch
with a total of 33 were successfully delivered home and 10 more are still unidentified.
The remains of Malaysian victims had to go through five important processes. These included obtaining the death certificate, medical certificate, disaster report, approval permit for delivery of the body and the letter from the Dutch public prosecution officer allowing the remains to be buried or cremated.
No matter how rigorous the process could be, Dato Wee admitted that this process were simplified with unconditional assistance from the Interfaith Council which sent representatives to Amsterdam, as well as local religious bodies and from abroad. NGOs and religious associations in Malaysia including MCA has managed to get contacts abroad for non-Muslim funeral. Monks, priests and other religious leaders were brought to meet victims' families and as far as the government is concerned, all their
requests are fulfilled.
For Buddhists, Fo Guang associaton who has a worldwide network has given their full assistance and infact there are monks from Taiwan, Thailand and Tibet who offered their help. Protestants and Catholics worked along for Christian Community in Amersterdam and to the heirs of the victims of Sikh descent, a religious leader took care of the cremation process.
Above all, Dato Wee praised JAKIM's officers who have shown their full commitment without compromising any hours, so be it in the middle of the night that they perform
prayers for Muslim victims.
What matters most to Dato Wee is that the victims' families appreciated the hardwork and they even cited that the remains laid to rest are beyond their expectations where it was done perfectly. Dato Wee personally ensures that all from A to Z are to be given at its best for the families.
When asked on dissenting voices from certain quarters especially from opposition leaders who accused that the government is spending lavishly on the occassion, Dato Wee
regards them as so unfounded. We need the aircraft to fly the coffins and urns, the military presence is only for ceremonial honor and those hearses will still be used again. As for the existing Kompleks Bunga Raya, the newly constructed wing were open for the occassion.
Should there be any incurred additional costs would be rental for tents and chairs. Infact no meals were served. Media coverage were born by their respective companies. Therefore, this clearly proven that any accusation our government were spendthrift is utterly not true.
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 between eastern Ukarine and pro-Russian separatists.
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