'Double Six' tragedy: No closure for kin despite declassified reports

Some family members of those who died in the aircraft accident on June 6, 1976, said there was still no closure despite the release of two government reports on the incident.

This was expressed by some of the family members who attended the state government’s memorial event at the “Double Six” monument in Sembulan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah yesterday.

Donald Mojuntin, the son of Peter Mojuntin who was on board that fatal flight, said there were no explanations for why it took 40 years to release the reports by the Malaysian and Australian governments.

“According to the reports, the accident is linked to the pilot’s negligence and failure of the aircraft.

“(What remains unanswered) is why the matter was kept hidden for over 40 years. Why? If you go through the report, there is no reason why.

“Instead of getting closure, the wounds started bleeding again,” said Donald, according to Borneo Post.

Putrajaya declassified the federal government’s investigation report into the incident in early April this year while the Australian government released its report upon the request of former Sabah chief minister Harris Mohd Salleh several weeks later.

Both reports claimed negligence on the pilot’s part. However, the Australian report also claimed that Sabah Air at the time was operating without proper approval from the Civil Aviation Department.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | What is the significance of the Double Six Crash?

Black box

Meanwhile, Melody Marcus, the granddaughter of Darius Binion - the assistant to the late Sabah chief minister Fuad Stephens who also perished in the crash, said the two reports were “incomplete” without details from the black box.

“It doesn’t seem like a finished story, and I think they could have recovered a black box in the aeroplane.

“I think that technology existed back then. I think that would have been more helpful in trying to make a more full and complete report.

“It will be interesting to find out what happened inside the aeroplane with all the people onboard,” she said.

A black box is an onboard flight recorder. Flight data is recorded into the box making it accessible to authorities when needed and providing investigators with information in the event of a crash.

Nevertheless, Marcus commended the Sabah government for commemorating the event annually and maintaining a memorial for the deceased.

Among those at the memorial yesterday were Deputy Chief Minister I Jeffrey Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister II Joachim Gunsalam, as well as assistant ministers Abidin Madingkir, Joniston Bangkuai, and Tan Lee Fatt.

Book ban

Meanwhile, at a separate memorial for Peter in Penampang yesterday, Donald urged Sabahans to support the petition calling for the lifting of the ban on the book “Golden Son of the Kadazan” by Bernard Sta Maria.

Donald argued that the ban was unnecessary as the book was already accessible online and the contents were factual.

“Maybe at that point in time there were some issues that would make some people uncomfortable but the book illustrates one of our premier leaders from that era so what is the point of banning it?” asked Donald.

The book, which chronicles Peter’s life and career, was banned by the Home Ministry in 1978.

In April, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Ewon Benedick said he requested the cabinet to lift the ban. There has been no word on the matter since.

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