Pilot and colleague laid to rest in Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA: Asmaa Aljuned watched silently as the body of her late husband and MH17 co-pilot Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi’s coffin was showered with earth.

Clad in a black baju kurung, she cradled her nine-month-old son Abderrahman Ahmad Hakimi, wiping the tears from her face.

At about 1pm on Friday, Ahmad Hakimi and fellow crew member Nur Shazana Mohamed Salleh were brought to the Putrajaya cemetery for burial.

The coffin bearing Nur Shazana, a Malaysia Airlines stewardess, was laid to rest in plot 54 of the cemetery’s Muslim section.

[ Final farewell: Asmaa (left), holding her son Abderrahman, is a picture of grief as she and her relatives watch her husband Ahmad Hakimi being laid to rest at the Putrajaya cemetery.  -IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

Ahmad’s coffin was later set down in plot 55.

Both coffins were draped with the Malaysian flag and were carried by Putrajaya Corp enforcement agents.

A funeral ceremony followed at about 3pm, before ending at 4pm.

Speaking to reporters, Nur’s mother Sharom Ibrahim said she was relieved that her daughter was brought back to be buried.

“We want swift action against those who shot down the plane,” she said.

She said her daughter’s body was in “good” condition.

Nur Shazana Mohamed Salleh

Ahmad’s father Prof Dr Hanapi Mohd Noor said he was thankful to the Government for bringing his son’s body back.

Asked if he felt angry over what happened, he said: “Nothing, no anger at all.”

Some members of Ahmad’s family were also seen donning T-shirts bearing his name and job title, with a phrase printed “See you in Jannah”.

Asked what this meant, Ahmad’s uncle Ghazali Daud said: “This T-shirt is a dedication to (Ahmad) Hakimi saying that we will see him in Jannah, the greatest of Paradises.”

He added that many in Ahmad’s family were angry over his death and had questioned why MH17 had been shot down.

“(But) we accept what Allah has planned,” he said.

Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi

Their remains had been transported here after the aircraft bearing 20 of the 43 Malaysian MH17 victims touched down at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9.55am.

Cemetery caretaker Mohamad Salleh said Nur and Ahmad’s burial here was a great privilege for Putrajaya Corp, which handles the burial grounds.

Citing Islamic law, he said those who died should be returned to their own home states, adding that Ahmad was from Kelantan and Nur from Penang.

“I can’t say we’re proud, but it is recognition for us to give respect to the remains,” said Mohamad, who is also City Services Department (Community Development) senior principal assistant director.

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