Hues of heartfelt hopes Written prayers on folded paper cranes winging their way to MH370

MALAYSIANS from all walks of life came together to express their well wishes for the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

In Penang, Gurney Paragon Mall’s paper crane making sessions saw participants folding an array of colourful origami pieces inscribed with heartfelt messages of hope.

The paper cranes, in shades of blue, pink, orange, peach, yellow and green, were then pinned up on boards and hung around the event site, where they will remain until the end of next week.

[ Participants channeling their prayers for the missing airliner through the act of folding paper cranes in various colours. ]

The event themed ‘5,000 cranes, 5,000 wishes, 5,000 prayers’ was held at the mall’s St. Jo’s building.

Hunza Properties Bhd’s group managing director Khor Siang Gin said the event was aimed at showing support and solidarity for the passengers, crew members and family members of MH370, which went missing in the early hours of Saturday en route to Beijing, China.

“We hope the search and rescue efforts will ultimately bear fruit, and the missing airliner can be found soon.

“According to Japanese tradition, a thousand paper cranes grants you one wish. So we hope that with 5,000 cranes, our collective wishes would be five times more effective,” he added during the first session on Thursday.

[ Well wishes are inscribed on the wings of the paper cranes. ]

Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey, who was also present, similarly expressed her concerns about the fate of MH370.

“This is a good way for people to come together and express their hopes and wishes in a positive way.

“From the outpouring of support we’ve seen so far, it is clear that the thoughts of Malaysians are with you,” she said.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Malaysia Origami Association, whose members were on hand to teach participants – made up of Hunza staff and shoppers - how to fold the paper cranes.

Some 45 children aged between three and six years old also held prayers at their kindergarten in Tadika Nurul Ilmu.

Its principal Muslimah Naim said the children were told about the missing plane and asked to pray for the safety of the passengers and crew.

“Seven days is quite a long time for the families to endure. I hope that they will remain strong,” she said.

On Thursday night, some 50 devotees of Sri Ayappan Seva Samajam also conducted a prayer service at their spiritual centre in Lebuh Nambyar, Market Cross.

The one-hour prayer was led by Guruji Shasta Sri La Sri Jegathguru Nyanasigaran.

The centre secretary M. Damodaran, who works as MAS airport services officer, said they were sharing their thoughts and prayers for the safety of the passengers and crew of those on board the plane.

“As a staff of MAS for 36 years and a devotee, I pray for their safety,” he said.

In Alor Setar, some 300 Muslims performed a special prayer outside the Zahir Mosque, which is also the state mosque.

Organised by the state government, the session started before the Friday prayers yesterday.

Present were Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, state executive councillors, as well as senior government officers.