(Petaling Jaya, Monday): Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi should direct Malaysian embassy staff in Indonesia to be in Palembang to help grieving relatives of 10 Malaysian victims of the Singapore SilkAir crash and take disciplinary action for the failure of the Malaysian Embassy so far to be in Palembang to render assistance as is being done by the Japanese embassy.
It is most shocking that relatives of the 10 Malaysian victims of the Singapore SilkAir crash were not able to get any assistance from Malaysian Embassy officials when they were flown to Palembang, and were completely stranded in Sumatra with no news or help.
If Japanese embassy officials could rush to Palembang to provide assistance to families of their nationals who had perished in the Singapore SilkAir crash, why couldn't Malaysian Embassy officials show similar responsibility and compassion for our own nationals, especially as ten Malaysians died as compared to two Japanese in the air disaster?
It is also most regrettable that the Malaysian government does not seem to care and has not shown any concern that 10 Malaysians have perished in the Singapore SilkAir crash in Sumatra by officially providing assistance to the families of the victims.
The whole country shares in the grief of the families and loved ones of the 10 Malaysian victims in the Palembang air crash and the government should not be indifferent to their pain and suffering.
Abdullah Badawi should give a full report to the country as to why Malaysian embassy officials from Indonesia and Sumatra had not rushed to Palembang to be of assistance to Malaysians who have lost their loved ones, when there should be a standing instruction to all Malaysian embassies and high commissions abroad to provide immediate and direct assistance to Malaysians in such distressful situations.
(22/12/97)