MH17 The nation is to observe a minute’s silence anytime between 10.45am and 11.15am on Friday in honour of the victims of the Flight MH17 tragedy as the remains of several Malaysian victims arrive at the KL International Airport in Sepang.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the silence would be observed by all the people present at the Bunga Raya Complex at KLIA, where the ceremony to receive the remains will take place, as well as people in their homes and offices and in schools.

People in moving vehicles are advised to stop their vehicles to observe the silence, he told a press conference held to explain the ceremony to receive the remains of the Malaysian victims of the tragedy.

The press conference was held along with Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim and Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari.

Ahmad Shabery said: “We will inform over the radio and television the exact time to observe the minute’s silence. Muslims can recite the Al-Fatihah while non-Muslims can observe the silence in accordance with their respective religious beliefs.”

The minister said members of the public who wish to attend the ceremony at KLIA would have to be outside the Bunga Raya Complex compound due to limited space and security reasons.

He also said that the ministry had arranged special vantage points for the media at several places, namely KLIA, KLIA2, the Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur, the Penang Bridge and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Baru.

“We will also let the media know the vantage points in Sabah and Sarawak. It will show the world that Malaysians are united in their grief for the victims of the MH17 tragedy,” he said.

Ahmad Shabery reminded all radio and television stations to adhere to the guidelines set by the ministry for their broadcast on Friday.

“We have requested all radio and television stations to broadcast the event and not air entertainment programmes. They have to also observe the minute’s silence.

Penang gov’t expresses condolences

Meanwhile, the Penang state flag will be flown at half mast like the Jalur Gemilang on Friday as a mark of respect and sympathy to the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 crash victims.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government would simultaneously pay last respects with the federal government via live coverage of the arrival of the victims' remains on Friday which would be displayed at the big screen in front of the Komtar Maybank here.

“The state government advises any quarters who will organise events in the state to also have one-minute moment of silence as a last respect to the MH17 victims before the function starts,” he told a media conference in George Town today.

Lim said the state government also shared the sadness of family members and friends of the flight MH370 passengers as well as crew and hoped there would some disclosure pertaining to its disappearance.

“We have never stopped praying that efforts to trace MH370 will bear fruit,” he said.

- Bernama