Still mixed feelings 41 years on
Published on: Wednesday, June 07, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The 41st anniversay of the Double Six tragedy that claimed the lives of first Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and several members of his Cabinet, among others, saw next-of-kin calling for closure but the opposition saying any closure is possible only if the Government releases the full report into the June 6, 1976 Nomad air crash.Upko Secretary General Datuk Donald Mojuntin who lost his dad Datuk Peter Mojuntin in the crash urged that the tragedy not be politicised further as the affected families have already come to closure on the matter. "I hope this matter is not politicised and from what I have seen the last few days there seem to be a lot of questions and answers.ADVERTISEMENT "It is my hope that people will come to commemorate their passing positively. Whatever that comes out from it must be positive. "As much as each member of the families would like to know what happened that day, I think the families have come to a closure on the issue but a lot of people still seem to be asking us the same questions," he said, after a wreath laying ceremony and visit to the memorial gallery at Grace Point, Sembulan.Stephens, along with Finance Minister Salleh Sulong, Minister of Local Government and Housing Peter Mojuntin, Works and Communication Minister Chong Thien Vun, Asst Minister to the CM Datuk Darius Binion and several other top government officials were flying from Labuan back to Kota Kinabalu when their Nomad plane crashed into Sembulan waters.After investigations, then Deputy Communication Minister Mohd Ali M Sharif announced that the crash was due to "human error" but the full findings were classified as a state secret under the Official Secrets Act.ADVERTISEMENT Donald said he was happy that the memorial ceremony by City Hall and State Government is continuing and should be so because the leaders in the tragedy were some of the State's pioneer political leaders. "I was only 11 then and I remember my dad as a father. As a politician I did not know him actually.
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"But from what I have read and heard from elders he was a great man including Stephens, Datuk Darius Binion, Datuk Chong Thien Vun and Datuk Salleh Sulong (and others). "They were all good people that tried their best for the State and tried to represent the respective races in the State with the greatest of dignity."Unfortunately once they were voted in as the government, over a month later God saw it fit to give them a rest from the world."But as I said earlier we must take the positives out of it. We must look at all the efforts that they untiringly underwent to make sure that the Sabah that we have today exists. "If not for them the political awareness and involvement and relevance of Sabah will not be as great as it is now. "So there are a lot of positives to be taken out of it and my hope is that the younger generations will come here and get to know a little bit of their own history by visiting the gallery and perhaps get inspired and be great leaders in the own right in the years to come.Gabungan Sabah members, consisting of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah also visited the Double Six Monument to remember those who perished.SAPP Vice-President Aloysius Siap, who was chairman of Gabungan's memorial organising committee, said the matter can only be put to rest if the government declassifies the report."Today, we are again remembering the tragic incident that took place 41 years ago. What we want is the truth, because the truth must prevail," he told reporters after the ceremony."We know some family members have put the matter to rest and we respect their wishes, but there's no real closure here."It's not opening old wounds. The people of Sabah deserve to know the full circumstances surrounding the incident."We'd also suggest that June 6 be made a holiday in the state so that all Sabahans, especially our young generation, remember the sacrifices our previous leaders made for us."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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The ceremony began with a minute of silence and contemplation, followed by the laying of wreaths led by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah and the family members of those killed.The late Mohammed Fuad's wife, Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens was also present. - Neil Chan