KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia grieved along with the family of Irish teen Nora Anne Quoirin who was found dead on Wednesday after a 10-day search for her in and around a resort in Negri Sembilan.
The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah joined leaders, personalities and other Malaysians in expressing their condolences and grief.
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah, via her Twitter account, @cheminahsayang, wrote: “My condolences to Nora’s family. May God give you the strength in your hour of need.”
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also tweeted his condolences to the family.
“May they persevere and be given the strength to face this test,” he said.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin posted his condolences to the Quoirin family on his Facebook account.
“I am saddened by the recent loss of the missing Irish teen Nora Anne Quoirin since Aug 4, which ended with the discovery of her body yesterday. I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family.
“And I would also like to thank the search and rescue (SAR) teams and all those involved in the operation as well as the volunteers who participated,” he said.
Deputy Women Family, and Community Development minister Hannah Yeoh also tweeted her condolences after learning the news yesterday,
“All Malaysians' thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of Nora Anne Quoirin tonight. Our hearts are with you,” she posted.
Irish president Michael D. Higgins also expressed his condolences to the missing French-Irish teen’s family and gratitude to the authorities involved in the search for Nora Anne.
“(My wife) Sabina and I offer our deepest condolences to Nóra’s parents, Meabh and Sebastien, to Nora’s siblings and her extended family.
“On behalf of the people of Ireland, I would also like to express my gratitude for the assistance given by the Malaysian authorities in the search for Nora, for the volunteers who answered the call to join the search and for all those throughout Malaysia, Ireland, Britain, and France who offered what support they could,” he was quoted as saying, according to Irish daily newspaper, Irish Examiner.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar shared his condolences to the family via Twitter: “Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Nora’s parents, siblings and extended family at this unimaginably difficult time. They have experienced every family’s worst nightmare. I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who searched for Nora. May she rest in peace.”
In a joint statement, French Europe and Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Secretary of State (Europe and Foreign Affairs) Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne expressed condolences and offered their assistance to shed light on the missing teen’s death.
“It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the passing of young Nora Quoirin in Malaysia. We wish to express our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones and assure them of our profound compassion.
“We thank the Malaysian authorities for their great responsiveness and exceptional mobilisation in the search conducted since Nora’s disappearance. We are also grateful for the solidarity shown by the people of Malaysia, also to those who volunteered their assistance.
“French authorities are at the disposal of Malaysian authorities so that full light is shed on the circumstances of her death,” read the statement which was posted on the website of the French embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
The statement also said that the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre and its consulate in Kuala Lumpur remain at the family’s disposal.
Irish rock band Kodaline, which has performed in Malaysia, also touched on the news of Nora Anne’s death on its Twitter account: “So saddened to hear the latest news coming out of Malaysia about Nora Quoirin! Our sincerest condolences to her parents and their whole network of family and friends.”