KUCHING, April 23: Sarawak’s leaders expressed shock and sorrow following the death of 10 navy personnel, including Sarawakian Joanna Felicia Rohna, in the Lumut helicopter crash.
Expressing sadness over Joanna’s death in the tragic accident, Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said Sarawak “lost a star” in her untimely passing.
“She was attached to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and happened to have studied at SMK Balai Ringin.
“My sincere condolences to her family,” he said in a statement today.
National and Sarawak leaders have since joined in and sent their heartfelt messages of condolences to the families of all those who have tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Serian MP Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem, noting that one of the victims hailed from Kampung Sumpas Tampek in Serian, expressed, “Our hearts go out to the families of all the victims.”
Federal Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi echoed the same sentiments, praying for strength and fortitude for the victims’ families in this trying time.
“Myself, along with all the leaders and citizens of this country, extend our sympathies and are deeply saddened by this unexpected event.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of all the victims,” he said in a post shared on his social media today.
The accident took place at the RMN naval base in Lumut, Perak, at 9.32am during a rehearsal for the 90th Navy Day Parade.
The 10 victims, comprising seven men and three women, served as crew members stationed in Kota Kinabalu and Lumut, aboard two aircraft, a Eurocopter Fennec and an AgustaWestland AW139.
All the bodies of those onboard have been recovered and identified. — DayakDaily
