Loved ones continue to search for answers
KUALA LUMPUR: Four years have passed since the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 tragedy, but family members of the passengers are not losing out hope for a positive outcome.
K. S. Narendran, whose wife was among the passengers, said he would not give up, even after four years.
“It was a tough question to answer when people ask me, ‘How do you feel after four years’... I do not know what to say.
“For the past four years, there were ups and downs. It was not easy. We continue to search for answers, we are not giving up.
“What is important is that we pursue the search mission, find the answer, not only for personal interests.”
Narendran, 54, from India, said this at the “4 Years On — 239 Lives Remember MH370” event at Publika, here, yesterday.
The daughter of MH370 crewmember Mohd Hazrin Hasnan said she still missed her father. “I still miss papa,” Iman said. The 9-year-old said she would look at her father’s photo each time she came home from school.
“I always look at papa’s picture after school. I miss papa.”
Her mother, Intan Maizura Othman, 37, said life must go on.
She said according to Islamic teachings, one must not grieve for too long over the loss of loved ones.
“It was tough at first. Throughout the years, I have been and still am praying for an answer. I will never give up. Life must go on and, alhamdulillah, I am okay now and so are my children.”
She said the incident was hard for Iman to accept as she was not used to not having her father around.
“But as time goes by and she grows up, she begins to understand, though she still longs for her papa.”
The next of kin of passengers on board the aircraft turned up at the two-hour event. The public also thronged the event, themed “It’s not history, it’s the future”.
Present were Transport Ministry deputy secretary-general Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman and Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia chairman Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.
The event included a special violin performance, Ballet Dance, by Zoe J, a performance by Patrick Leong, who sang Search On, a Tribute to Loved Ones song by performers from Malaysia, India and China and a multifaith prayer session.
There was a talk on “Psychological effects of MH370: Faith, Hope & Recovery” by Urmilah Das, symbolic gestures by the next of kin and Interpretative Wings and Fan Dance by Madana Bakhshy and Judy Lim.
A moment of silence was observed by family members and the public as they took part in a candlelight vigil.
On March 8, 2014, Flight MH370 disappeared en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. A total of 239 passengers from 14 countries, including crew members, were on board.