KUALA KANGSAR: “It is an irony that we are joyous while in grief as we have been waiting for his body for such a long time.”
Such were the candid words of Wan Aini Wan Hussin as she described her family’s reaction to news that the remains of her younger brother, Captain Wan Amran, will arrive home tomorrow.
Wan Aini said the family was informed by her brother’s wife who attended a briefing by Malaysia Airlines on Friday.
“Each time there is an announcement that MH17 victims are returning, we hope our brother’s name will be in the list. Finally this time, his name is on the list,” she said when contacted yesterday.
Wan Aini, 61, said the family would be gathered at Wan Amran's home at Shah Alam today.
“His wife and two children had flown to Amsterdam to accompany the remains back,” she added, adding that Wan Amran would be buried in Shah Alam.
Wan Aini thanked the government for doing all it could to bring back her brother’s remains.
“This brings closure to the family,” she added.
Wan Amran piloted flight MH17 when it was shot down in Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 onboard.
To date, three remains of MH17 victims have been buried in Perak.
They are chief stewardess Azrina Yakob, 41, stewardess Chong Yee Pheng, 40, and passenger Noor Rahimmah Mohd Nor, 67.
In Ipoh, the family of first officer Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Rahim were relieved that his remains would also return after a one-and-a-half month wait.
Firdaus’ remains will be among the nine Malaysians repatriated tomorrow.
“We can now resume a normal life and hold on to the fond memories of him,” said his uncle, Azman Ibrahim.
Azman also extended the family’s appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Malaysian government for the efforts to bring back the victims.
“We will continue to pray that Allah places Firdaus and other victims in the uppermost heaven.”
Firdaus’ remains will be buried in Teluk Intan as he had indicated that he wanted to be laid to rest in the same place as his late father.