KUCHING: The army and the Sarawak government will help keep Cpl Jun Sang's promise to rebuild a home for his family, which was burnt down last month.

Army Field Commander Lt Gen Datuk Zulkifeli Md Zin said work will begin once everything is settled.

"At the moment, let's concentrate on giving him the last respects he deserves. He died in line of duty and his death is a loss to Malaysia and Sa-rawak," said Zulkifeli after witnessing the arrival of Jun's body at the MasKargo terminal yesterday.

He also said Jun's wife, Siman Inguh, 31 would receive full rewards from the Defence Ministry soon.

Jun's body arrived at Kuching International Airport at 5.30pm yesterday.
Draped with the United Nation's flag and the Jalur Gemilang, 1st Div Staff Headquarters Chief Col Zolkopli Hashim gave the casket the receiving salute before the pall-bearers paraded it towards the hearse.



Also present was Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Jabu Numpang.

As the casket was carried by the pall-bearers, Siman cried, "God why?" before fainting.



The casket was paraded along 200 army officers and personnel from army's 3rd Brigade and representatives from the Air Force and Navy.

Jun's body will be kept at Penrissen Camp for a night and flown to Betong by helicopter at 7.30am today.

From Betong, the body will be brought to Engkalat Spak for a three-day wake before the funeral at St Agustine's Cemetary.



Meanwhile, an army source told the New Straits Times that Jun died because he was crushed by the Condor armoured personnel carrier (APC) he was in.

Jun was assigned as the APC gunner when it overturned while climbing a hill during an escort mission in Srifa, about 20km southwest of Kaokabah, Lebanon, last Friday.

"Reports said he failed to escape through the turret hatch and was crushed by the vehicle when it overturned," said the source, adding that the patrol unit was using the APC belonging to the 2nd Armoured Division.

Meanwhile, 1st Division Army Infantry Staff Officer Lt Col Mohd Melintang Abdullah said the accident was due to a faulty gear box.

"The driver lost control of the APC when the gear failed, causing the vehicle to move 20 metres backwards before hitting a boulder and overturning," he said at a press briefing on the incident at the division headquarters in Bampfylde Road yesterday.