Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (Star Sabah) said it is a relief the final report on the “Double Six” plane crash in Sabah in 1976 will be declassified next week.
Its Deputy Youth Chief Prem Kitingan said the party had for a long time been pestering the federal government to declassify the report.
“It’s a huge relief to us to hear from the Prime Minister that the final report will be declassified. This has been one of the main struggles of the party led by our President Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan to pressure the federal government to do so.
“So, this is a very positive outcome not only for Star Sabah but for all Sabahans. It’s about time we all know the truth so we can put a closure to one of the darkest episodes in our history,” he said in a statement. The Daily Express’ award winning team of journalists presents ‘Double Six: The Untold Stories’, a documentary on the plane crash in Sabah (East Malaysia) killing the newly-elected Chief Minister of Sabah Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens, four state ministers and six others on June 6th, 1976. After 46 years the findings of the crash also known to many as The Double Six Tragedy have not been disclosed. Note: This series unravels information not previously available to the public, but does not in any way attribute blame for the crash on any party.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced on Wednesday that the federal cabinet had decided on the matter in the interest of the families of the crash victims and the people of Sabah.
“It’s timely even though it has taken 47 years,” said Prem.
He noted that Jeffrey and other Star Sabah leaders never miss joining other Sabah party leaders in the yearly memorial service to pay respect to the fallen leaders.
“Because of their persistence and consistency, we will soon know the contents of the final report,” he said.
The crash had killed 11 people, including then Sabah chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens, state ministers Datuk Salleh Sulong, Datuk Peter Mojuntin and Chong Thien Vun.
They were on a flight from Labuan when the aircraft crashed in Sembulan while approaching the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
Among others who also perished were state assistant minister Darius Binion, Sabah Finance Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Wahid Peter Andau, Isak Atan (private secretary to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who was then finance minister), Kpl Said Mohammad (bodyguard to Fuad), pilot Capt Gandhi Nathan and Fuad’s eldest son Johari Stephens.
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