It was on a July morning (17-7-2014), while having breakfast with my wife and we were listening to news from a radio station, that we heard the sad and shocking news that a MAS plane MH17 was
shot down while flying over Ukraine. Our first natural reaction was: 'Oh my god, not again', as it was just over 4 months ago on 8-3-2014 that another MAS plane, MH370 disappeared and until today it has not been found. No one knows what had happened to the plane and all on board. The Malaysian government is still searching. What made the disaster more shocking was the call from my nephew that my niece's son was on board the ill-fated flight MH17. Again this was extremely hard to believe, as the chance of being on the plane was very, very slim. Yet it happened. This is nature's way of converging all concerned at the same place and time to make this event happen. We have to accept that it had happen. He was only 32, a bright and pleasant young man with a bright future ahead of him which was ended by some cruel and greedy politicians who fight to control territories. Let us hope justice will be done on these animals who kill others to gain power.
He was sent by his company to sign a contract to a project in Belgium with 2 other colleagues. They were booked on a KLM flight to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, transiting in Singapore. He wanted to travel by MAS, as it was a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur, but the flight was fully booked. However, MAS later called to say that seats were available, as there were some cancellation of booking. So he changed to the fateful flight, while his colleagues did not. That is how fate determines a person's life.
A report from Sinchew Daily
A Sinchew Daily report on 20-7-2014
Since that fateful day, 17-7-2014, there had been many versions of how the disaster happened. But one thing is now clear : the plane was shot down by one of the conflicting parties in the Ukraine conflict. The Ukraine government had released a taped transcript of conversations between the rebels, claiming they had downed a plane. The rebels, who control the territory where the plane was shot down, counterclaimed that it was shot down by the Ukrainian fighter plane, which was tailing the MAS plane for some time. We hope that the truth will come out after the international investigation team complete their job. It was reported that when the European Investigators went to the scene, the rebels were hostile, and allowed only limited access for only less than an hour before they fired shots into the air to chase away the investigators.
It was reported that the rebels removed items at the scene and taken away the victims' bodies. If they have nothing to hide, why did they behave this way? On the other hand, it was said that the plane was shot using a Soviet-built BUK missile, which is very high tech and can only be operated by trained personnel. The missile can reach up to 70,000 feet. The MAS plane was reported to be flying at 30,000 feet, which is normal for a commercial plane. But today (22-7-2014), it was reported that Russia has officially denied supplying the BUK missiles to the rebels and blamed the CIA for the crime instead.
A team of more than 100 Malaysians (including the Transport Minister) had arrived in Ukraine yesterday and had established contact with both the Ukraine government and the Russian government, as well as the head of the rebel army. They had agreed to establish safe passage to the accident scene. It was further reported that they had released the black boxes to the Malaysian team and would be releasing the bodies of the victims to be taken to Amsterdam by Malaysian army planes for investigation. The Malaysian victims will be flown back to Malaysia for burial.
I believe at the end of the day the truth will not be found as to who the culprits were, while a great deal of international politicking will continue, with more sanctions on Russia, which will prove to be ineffective, as many countries and businessmen will continue to trade with Russia, though not so openly. After some years all will be forgotten. May the victims rest in peace.
After much efforts and overcoming many hurdles, the Malaysian government managed to bring home twenty bodies of victims on 22-8-2014. The plane carrying the bodies touched down at KLIA at around 10.00 in the morning. It was witnessed by the king and prime minister, cabinet ministers and diplomats with solders performing the carrying of the coffins from the plane to the waiting vans. The whole ceremony took about an hour and at the end of the ceremony, the whole nation stood at silence for one minute. 22-8-2014 was declared a national mourning day.
Qing Zhen's body was taken to the funeral parlour in Sungei Besi for a short religious ceremony and dress-up. It was taken to his home the next day for people to pay respect. The funeral wake was well attended by staff and students of Chinese schools in Klang, as he was very active in their activities for the schools' advancement, as well as relatives and friends. He was cremated at the Memorial Burial ground in Shah Alam the next day, 24-8-2014.
A picture from Sin Chew Daily showing the funeral procession.
A description of his social activities when he was alive, by Sin Chew Daily
A picture from Sin Chew Daily showing vans leaving the airport
Another picture from Sin Chew Daily showing unloading of coffins from
the plane and dignitaries praying.
Minister praying at the ceremony
