FORMER Sabah chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has expressed hopes that the reports of the investigation into the Double Six tragedy – which are expected to be released publicly – would be released in their entirety with no redactions.
Yong was referring to the 1976 tragedy, in which a Nomad N-22B plane crashed and killed 11 passengers, including then Sabah chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens.
He was among many who demanded that the Australian and Malaysian governments release the report that had been held secret for 47 years.
“I hope the reports would be released without any amendments or parts omitted. Only with the full reports can the state’s tragic chapter would have its closure,” he told Berita Harian.
Yong, the president of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), said the findings would be critical in answering all unresolved questions about the aviation tragedy.
He had previously requested that the findings of the aviation probe be made public following the cabinet decision and announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to declassify the document.
Similar demands were made by the victims’ next-of-kin, who were unhappy with the Transport Ministry’s findings announced on April 12.
The Australian government initiated its own inquiry as the plane involved in the crash was constructed by the Australian government-owned Government Aircraft Factories (GAF).
Malaysia and Australia opted to undertake their separate investigations into the incident in 1977, and neither had access to each other’s findings.
The findings remained secret and confidential until recently, when the Malaysian government announced their declassification.
Australia has released some of its findings throughout the years, albeit with redactions.
Families of victims of the accident had been persistently asking that Australia release the full documents to complete Malaysian authorities’ investigations.
On Monday (April 24), Australia’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney voted to allow the full release of Australia’s reports on the catastrophe. Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh, the former chief minister of Sabah, had requested this.
Harris made the request to National Archives of Australia (NAA) through Messrs Jayasuriya Kah & Co, who sought the help of Stephen Blanks of SBA Lawyers and Tom Brennan SC of 13 Wentworth Chambers to file the application in May last year. – April 26, 2023
Main pic credit: Malay Mail
