KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders have welcomed the decision to declassify the final report on Sabah’s “Double Six” plane crash that killed 11 people.
Like the families of the deceased, they too wish to know what exactly happened on that day.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said whatever the conclusion of the report, it would be accepted by the state government.
“This is a relief because it will unravel what actually happened. It’s a relief not only to the family of those who perished in the plane crash but also to the people of Sabah,” Hajiji said.
Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said declassifying the report showed the government’s commitment to transparent, fair and just governance.
He described it as a victory for Sabah after almost 50 years, as the families could now have closure.
He said people had been asking for so long, what actually led to the tragedy involving the Nomad 9M-ATZ aircraft.
He said Sabahans were happy when the High Court in Kota Kinabalu ordered the Malaysian government on March 8 to declassify the federal investigation report on the crash after a lawsuit by former chief minister Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh.
“However, when the government appealed against the ruling, we were thinking ‘what is this?’.
“Just imagine how the families felt all these years with no answers to the tragedy,” he said.
Former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee too cannot wait to read the report, as he is among those calling for the report to be declassified.
“I am waiting to eagerly read the report – not only what is in it but also what might not be in it,” he said.
Sabah MCA chief Lu Yen Tung said this was a win for the people of Sabah.
“The government should let us know the facts of this incident. The people have a right to know,” he said.
Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said the long-awaited declassification would put an end to all speculation as the tragedy had been a mystery for almost half a century.
