MH17: Remains Of Two M'sian Victims Expected To Be Buried In Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 20 (Bernama) -– The remains of two Malaysian victims of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 aircraft tragedy - part of the first batch to arrive in Malaysia on Friday - are expected to be buried at the Muslim burial ground in Taman Selatan, Presinct 20 here. Community Services Division in Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) senior deputy director Zailani Hashim said the remains of the two would be taken to the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin mosque for special prayers, following a ceremony to offer final respects to the victims at the Bunga Raya Complex in the KL International Airport (KLIA). He said the prayers would be led by the chief imam of the mosque and buried after Friday prayers at the Muslim burial grounds in Presinct 20. He said there was an 86.78 hectare burial ground for Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and others in Taman Selatan. Zailani was speaking to reporters after attending a briefing on the burial of the victims at the Putrajaya Corporation Complex here Tuesday. The remains of the first batch of victims are due to arrive on Friday, which has been declared a Day of National Mourning, about 10am in a special aircraft from Amsterdam. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku (King) Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah is expected to attend the ceremony with Prime Minister Najib Razak, cabinet ministers, menteris besar and chief ministers, as well as family members of the victims. Flight MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it went down in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on July 17. The Boeing 777-200, with its 298 passengers and crew was believed to have been shot down. -- BERNAMA