MH17: Remains of Meling Mula buried in Bintulu

Meling Mula, one of the victims of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy, was buried here Saturday.

Meling, whose remains were among the five brought back to Malaysia yesterday from Amsterdam, was laid to rest at the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) cemetery at about 8.40 am.

His remains were flown from the KL International Airport (KLIA) to Bintulu yesterday in a C130 aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Meling, who was 48, was one of the 298 people who were killed when Flight MH17 went down in eastern Ukraine on July 17 when flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The plane was shot down over the troubled country.

Forty-four Malaysians, one of them of dual nationality, were killed in the disaster. The remains of 42 of them have been brought back to Malaysia thus far.

From the Bintulu airport, Meling's remains were taken to his Sungai Plan flat in Jalan Tanjung Kidurong and then to the Sungai Plan hall where relatives and friends paid their last respects.

A 'Malam Rabat' traditional ceremony of the Iban community was held last night at the Sungai Plan hall.

Pastor Richard Lai led the Christian prayers at the cemetery today before the burial.

Meling leaves behind wife Simbut Kedit, 39, and three children, Maryline Sindun, 18, Benedict Bana, 15, and Gabriel, eight.

After the burial, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah, who had accompanied the remains on the flight from Kuala Lumpur, handed over to Maryline the Malaysian flag that had been used to drape the coffin.

He said the government would provide aid to the family of Meling, particularly for the education of his children.