KUALA LUMPUR:: Following the declassification of the final report of the investigation of the infamous “Double Six” plane crash which took place 47 years ago, both the Federal and the state governments should make clear their official position on this matter, and to take follow-up actions, if necessary, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) cum The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS).
While welcoming the government’s recent announcement that it has decided to declassify the final report of the investigation into the Sabah Air plane crash that killed the then Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens, along with several members of the state Cabinet in 1976, Goh hoped that its declassification besides revealing the truth of the tragic incident, would also do justice to the victims.
He acknowledged that the said tragedy has been excruciating and tormenting for the victims’ families, and the fact that it was made classified, for the past 47 years, has inevitably fueled wild speculations and spawned conspiracy theories.
He said this in a statement issued today, while welcoming the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent announcement that the said report has been declassified in accordance with Section 2C of the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88), and is to be made public next week. This came after Kota Kinabalu High Court judge Datuk Christopher Chin Soo Yin issued a mandamus order on March 8, directing the Malaysian government to declassify or make public the Malaysian authorities’ investigation report into so-called “Double Six Tragedy” involving the Nomad Aircraft 9M-ATZ that killed then Sabah chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens and 10 others onboard.
In the same court order, the judge also gave the Malaysian government three months or until June 8 to comply. The judge was ruling in a lawsuit filed by former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh, and decided in his favour.
Goh said, the declassification of the said final report not only mattered to the plaintiff, but also the fervent wish of the victims’ families, and many concerned Malaysians, Sabahans in particular.
He concurred with the Prime Minister for saying that the decision to declassify the said final report was made in the interest of the victims’ families as well as the views of the people of Sabah who wanted detailed information about the incident.
Anwar said public disclosure regarding the report was also in line with the policy of openness and transparency practised by the unity government.
Goh also supported Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Mohd Noor for saying that the state government will accept the findings of the report of the incident, with an open heart.
Besides this, Goh also opined that the federal government should officially demand for the Australian government to release the full report of their investigation into the “Double Six” plane crash which had also been withheld by the Australian National Archives.
He noted that the Australian archives had withheld the publication citing the official reason that “release of the information could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the international relations of the Commonwealth” (Australia).
He nonetheless opined that, following the Malaysian government’s recent decision to declassify the report, the Australian government too should follow suit to release the full report of their investigation into the plane crash, in order for it to have a proper closure.-pr/BNN
