KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has praised Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin for his swift response in handling the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) helicopter tragedy which claimed the lives of 10 navy personnel yesterday.
Offering condolences to the victims’ families, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, said that the party also welcomed the minister’s actions, including cancelling the 90th RMN anniversary celebration and replacing it with a yassin and tahlil prayer ceremony on Friday instead.
“PAS also welcomes his assurance to not only assist in managing the victims’ funerals, but also to ensure that all benefits and entitlements due to the widows and families of the victims are provided to look after their welfare.
“While not setting a timeframe for an interim report on the incident, the minister’s assurance to deliver it, along with the ministry’s decision to establish a navy investigation board to determine the cause of the tragedy, is an appropriate move and should be expedited without delay,” he said in a statement here today.
At 9.32am yesterday, two navy helicopters collided mid-air and crashed in Lumut while conducting a third rehearsal for a flypass in conjunction with the RMN Fleet Open Day. – April 24, 2024