Remains of MAS first officer among 16 Malaysian victims identified

The remains of First Officer Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Rahim was among those of 16 Malaysian victims of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH17 crash already identified and will be sent home by next week, the earliest.

His uncle, Azman Ibrahim said MAS had informed the developments to the victim's mother and elder sister in Shah Alam on Tuesday, but they had not been told when his remains would actually arrive in Malaysia.

"We were informed that Muhammad Firdaus' remains were identified through DNA matching. We were also told that his family members would be taken to Amsterdam to accompany the victim's remains back to Malaysia," he said when contacted here yesterday.

Azman said although the family was still grieving over the loss and did not know about the condition of the victim's remains, they were still relieved that his remains would be brought back and be buried next to his late father's grave in Teluk Intan, Perak as he had wished.

Meanwhile, the family of another MH17 crash victim, Tambi Jiee, was still hopeful that his remains and that of his wife, Ariza Gazalee, and their four children could be brought home to Semariang, Sarawak.

This was revealed yesterday by Ariza's cousin, Zurusdi Mohamad Hol.

Hoping for the same is Madiani Mahdi, the wife of MAS steward Shaikh Mohd Noor Mahmood who was also on board the ill-fated flight.

Madiani said MAS had told her to be prepared although she had not received information that her husband's remains were among those of 16 Malaysian victims already identified.

She said the family had all agreed that Shaikh Mohd Noor be interred at his village in Klang if his remains were brought back to Malaysia.

The MAS plane on Flight MH17, carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members, crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 while on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

It is believed to have been shot down by a missile over the troubled country.