Deputy Health Minister Hanifah Hajar Taib urges the public not to speculate about the Long Lellang helicopter crash victims’ families.
MIRI: The public has been urged to respect the privacy and give space to the families of the five victims of the Long Lellang helicopter crash who are going through a difficult time, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib.
She said the spread of assumptions or unverified information could increase anxiety and emotional distress for the victims’ families.
“I plead, please do not speculate because it can cause distress to the families. We do not yet know what actually happened and it is inappropriate to make any assumptions.
“Give them space and positive support because this loss is very shocking and they are going through a very difficult time,” she said when met by reporters here today.
Hanifah said she, along with Miri District Police Chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah, had met the victims’ families yesterday evening to convey developments regarding the follow-up procedures of the tragedy.
According to her, the families were also briefed that the forensic process and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sample analysis must be conducted carefully before the remains can be handed over to the next of kin.
She said all parties need to give space to the authorities and relevant agencies to carry out their respective duties, while any developments should be referred to official sources to avoid confusion.
Hanifah said attention is also being given to the emotional well-being and mental health of the victims’ families, as every individual has their own way of coping with the loss of loved ones.
On Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) reported that a BO-105 helicopter carrying five individuals, including the pilot, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport).
The victims who perished were pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30; medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; and two nurses, Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44.
