NGO renews push to include 'Double Six' tragedy in Sabah's history lessons
KOTA KINABALU: NGO Sunduvan Sabah plans to meet the Sabah Education director to discuss ways of incorporating the "Double Six" tragedy into the state's history curriculum.
Its chairman Aloysius Danim Siap said the June 6, 1976 plane crash that claimed the lives of key state leaders should be properly recognised as a turning point in Sabah's history.
'By including the Double Six tragedy in the syllabus, we ensure future generations remember and learn from it,' he said here on Wednesday (May 28), reiterating a call he made last year as the anniversary of the incident approached.
ALSO READ: Double Six Tragedy should be in History textbook
Siap said the NGO will also publish a book with verified historical records, testimonies from the victims' families, and analysis of the social and political impact of the crash.
'The book is intended to serve as an educational reference and to support broader public awareness,' he said.
He also invited the public to attend the Double Six Memorial Ceremony at the Double Six Memorial Park in Sembulan at 9am on June 6, and wear black as a mark of respect.
The crash involved a GAF Nomad aircraft that went down near Sembulan shortly before landing, killing all 11 people on board.
ALSO READ: 'Double Six' tragedy: Memorial needs a proper monument, says Kitingan
The victims included then chief minister Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens, his eldest son Johari, state finance minister Datuk Salleh Sulong, local government minister Datuk Peter Mojuntin, communications and works minister Datuk Chong Thien Vun, and assistant minister to the chief minister Datuk Darius Binion.
Also on board were state economic planning unit director Dr Syed Hussein Wafa; Ishak Atan, the private secretary to then-finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and Koperal Mohd Said, a bodyguard.
The aircraft was piloted by Captain Gandhi J. Nathan with first officer Soejono as co-pilot.
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