KUALA LUMPUR (Mar 7): One day to the first anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, friends of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah believe there is still hope that the plane will be found.
In keeping this hope alive, they held their own private remembrance last night to commemorate and pay tribute to the pilot of the lost Boeing 777-200ER and those on board the ill-fated plane.
Zaharie was one of the 12 MAS crew members on board the Beijing-bound jetliner when it disappeared from radar less than an hour after take-off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on March 8.
One of his friends, Peter Chong, said the decision to hold the candlelight vigil early was because they didn’t want to be in the way of the family's private moment as most relatives will have their own kenduris and prayers tonight.
He said the remembrance was meant to keep their hopes alive, not just for Zaharie, but also for the passengers and plane.
"Until we have answers as to where the plane is located, the search must go on. There is still hope because we have yet to find anything," he said.
The vigil started with a poetry recital and speeches by members of the public as well as the families of MH370 passengers who had turned up for the event.
However, none of Zaharie's family members were present last night.
"They are aware of the event but his sister told me that they will not be coming as it is too much for her and she might end up crying," said Chong.
Peter Chong, friend of Captain Zahari Ahmad Shah and organiser of last night’s event to remember those lost on board flight MH370. Chong says until the plane is found, there is still hope for the passengers and crew members who have been missing for almost a year now. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, March 7, 2015.Peter Chong, friend of Captain Zahari Ahmad Shah and organiser of last night’s event to remember those lost on board flight MH370. Chong says until the plane is found, there is still hope for the passengers and crew members who have been missing for almost a year now. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, March 7, 2015.He said most of those who had attended the vigil were Zaharie's friends and colleagues who expressed their wish to remain anonymous.
Among those spotted were Jacquita Gonzales, the wife of in-flight supervisor Patrick Gomes, family members of passenger Anne Daisy as well as a relative of a Chinese passenger on board the flight.
Tonight, next-of-kin of MH370 crew members will hold a private gathering in remembrance of their missing loved ones ahead of another major event organised by families of MH370 passengers in Malaysia which will take place at The Publika the next day.
Malaysia on January 29 declared that flight MH370 was lost in an accident, killing all 239 passengers and crew members on board.
Director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman read the statement live on air and the declaration is available on the DCA website.
"It is with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident in accordance with the Standards of Annexes 12 and 13 to the Chicago Convention and that all 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives,” said Azharuddin.
He said the government also assured the families of the passengers and crew that the search for MH370 remained a priority.
“This declaration is by no means the end. We will forge ahead with the cooperation and assistance of the governments of China and Australia. MH370, its passengers and its crew will always be remembered and honoured.”
The initial search and rescue operations covered the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Sea and the southern Indian Ocean, involving 65 aircraft and 95 vessels and experts from 25 countries.
On April 28 last year, the search and rescue phase transitioned to a underwater search and recovery phase led by the Joint Agency Coordination Centre and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
"The underwater search is still ongoing at this time and the exercise is currently being performed by four vessels, namely the Go Phoenix, Fugro Discovery, Fugro Equator and Fugro Supporter. To date, the search has covered over 18,600 square kilometres," Azharuddin said.