By Neil Brian Joseph

Reveal findings of 'Double Six' tragedy probe call

KOTA KINABALU: Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Jimmy Wong Sze Pin said the new state government should reveal the exact findings of the investigation into the infamous 'Double Six' Tragedy.

He said the majority of Sabahans hoped that the government would review the case as most of them are still very doubtful as to the actual cause of the accident.

"I pray that our new government can consider to review this case to satisfy the people. The majority of the people are still doubtful, about the genuine cause of the accident.

"Of course I hope that our Chief Minister will look into this. Whether there is a necessity after 42 years to really review this case again, once and for all," he said when met at the commemoration ceremony of the 42nd anniversary of the Double Six Tragedy yesterday.

He also said that he was pleased to have attended the event as a member of the new government.

"This is my first time attending this event officially. Before this, I had been attending this event every year as an opposition. But today, we came here as a government, representing the Chief Minister of Sabah.

"This is a government function and I am honoured to represent him, to pay our highest respect to our Sabah heroes," Jimmy added.

He opined that there is a need to refurbish the memorial gallery for it to be turned into a major tourist attraction, in honour of the leaders who perished in the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey who was also met at the event after Jimmy and his entourage had left, had echoed Jimmy's views.

"The tragedy has not been solved yet. It is still hanging. The report and what actually happened should now be declassified. We (Sabahans) want to know what is in the report so that we can put this event to rest and that the families will also put to rest the questions that had been lingering in their mind," he said.

Also present in the event was Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens, the wife of the late Tun Fuad Stephens, the first Chief Minister of Sabah.

When she was asked whether she was still seeking closure on the tragic death of her husband, she calmly answered 'not really'.

"It is over. That is it. Why do we need to dig here and there anymore. To me, (we should) leave him alone and people should do the same," she said.

"To me, the memory is still there but there is nothing we can do. It is so nice to see everyo body here this morning. I must thank everybody for attending this event," she added.

She also agreed that there is a need for the memorial gallery to be refurbished.