MH17: Aug 22 declared National Day of Mourning

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that Aug 22 (Friday) has been declared as a National Day of Mourning as the date will witness the arrival of the remains of Malaysian victims of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy in Ukraine.

He said a ceremony in respect of those killed in the tragedy would be held that day at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport (KLIA) following the arrival of 16 bodies, including that of a non-Malaysian citizen.

He said the remains of the 16 victims would be transported via a special aircraft from Amsterdam which was expected to arrive at KLIA at 10am.

"The ceremony to honour the victims will be solemn, as the occasion demands," he told a media conference after chairing a meeting on the ceremony to honour the victims of the MH17 tragedy.

Muhyiddin said the Yang Dipertuan Agong was scheduled to be at the ceremony, which would also be attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Menteris Besar, Chief Ministers and the families of the victims.

He said, however, there would be no public holiday in conjunction with the National Day of Mourning.

During the ceremony, he said the coffin carrying the remains of each victim would be carried by ceremonial officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces and taken to 16 hearses and given respect in accordance with their respective religions, besides observing a moment of silence.

Of the Malaysian victims, he said nine were not Muslims.

The identities of the victims would only be announced during the ceremony, he added.