KUALA LUMPUR: THE remains of a victim on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was originally scheduled to arrive home tomorrow, has been held back, in a move authorities said was to help in the investigation into the downing of the airliner.
MAS officials, without revealing the identity of the victim, said the passenger had to be taken off the repatriation list as it could hold more clues that could help with the ongoing criminal investigation, led by the Dutch government.
“They could have found traces of shrapnel in the remains. It is likely that they (the investigators) needed to confirm the source of the ‘traces’ before the body is released and brought back to Malaysia.
“It is disheartening for us to break the news to the family, who had hoped to see their loved one tomorrow,” a MAS officer said, adding that the team dealing with the victims’ next of kin was only briefed in general terms about the ongoing investigations.
The official, who was accompanied by three other officers, was apologetic about letting down the family in question.
“Due to the nature of the tragedy and the involvement of multiple agencies, MAS is at the bottom of the communications totem pole. However, we always try our best to provide updates and developments as quickly as we can.”
Meanwhile, after days of agonising uncertainties, the family of MH17 chief stewardess Dora Shahila Kassim finally received comforting news. They were told yesterday morning that her remains would come home tomorrow.
The family had, over the week, been on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
They were told on Aug 14 that Dora’s remains were among the first 16 identified and released.
Their relief was short-lived on Tuesday evening when they were told otherwise.
The reason given was that Dora’s remains were needed in the Netherlands to help in the investigation.
At 11.30am yesterday, a team from MAS arrived at the family home in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) here and told them that Dora was indeed coming home.
“I am hopeful and grateful. But I need to see her coffin first before there’s finally closure for me,” Dora Shahila’s brother, Don Shahidan Kassim, told the New Straits Times.
When the officials broke the news to the family, they all broke down.
“The MAS officials said they received a call from the Dutch government at 4.10am yesterday that Dora’s remains would be sent back this Friday.
“They said the Dutch government then gave the clearance to bring back my sister’s remains,” said Don Shahidan.
Dora’s mother, Hasnah Mohd Yusof, said yesterday’s news was just what she needed after the heartbreak she had endured since July 17. Dora was among 298 people killed that day.
“My tears of sadness have dried up. These are tears of gratitude and relief,” she said, adding that the family would adhere to Jakim’s (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) advice against opening her daughter’s coffin.
“We were advised that it could be traumatising for the family.
“We were told by officials that her body was still relatively intact... However, we were also told we can’t open her coffin as it had been sealed.
“We will always remember the day she left the house,” Hasnah said, pointing to a picture of Dora smiling, which was posted by an Australian passenger she had served.
Hasnah said that was how she wanted to remember her daughter.
The family said they were concerned about how Dora’s only child, Diyana Yazeera Yazli, 15, was coping with the loss of her mother.
“She was the one most affected (by the tragedy).
“She would sleep with her mother’s folded uniform by her side and wake up in the middle of night calling out for her mother,” Hasnah said, adding that they had sent her granddaughter for counselling.
Hasnah, Diyana Yazeera, Don Shahidan and his wife will be among the eight representatives from their family who would be at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Bunga Raya Complex for the ceremony tomorrow.
The family said MAS had prepared two cars to ferry the family members from their TTDI home to KLIA.
They are expected to accompany Dora’s hearse to At-Taqwa Mosque in TTDI and later to the Bukit Kiara cemetery.