Memorial service today for MH17 tragedy victims

A memorial service will be held tomorrow for the victims of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy with a gathering of family members at the Bunga Raya Complex of the KL International Airport in Sepang.

The event is being held to commemorate the first anniversary of the downing of the aircraft over Ukraine on July 17 last year that killed all 298 passengers and crew, among them 43 Malaysians.

Transport Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy) Datuk Ruhaizah Mohamed Rashid said the ceremony would be held on a moderate scale but with due respect for the victims.

She told Bernama that the ceremony would be a simple, solemn and dignified affair.

The event would take into consideration the sensitivities of the family members as well as the fact that it is now the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"We do not want to upset the sensitivities of the families because what is important is that we remember the incident," she said.

One of the activities of the ceremony, which will begin at 10am, would be a video screening of the events around the MH17 tragedy and observing a moment's silence.

Ruhaizah said as of last Wednesday, 180 family members had confirmed their attendance at the memorial service.

"In consideration of the space, we have limited each family to four people," she said, adding that Cabinet members would be among those attending the ceremony.

The KLIA Bunga Raya Complex was the venue where the remains of the victims of the tragedy were flown in last year.

Flight MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over Ukraine.