Students may be invited to 50th Double Six memorial, says minister
KOTA KINABALU (June 6): Students from schools and universities may be invited to participate in the 50th Double Six memorial ceremony next year, said State Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin.
He said the proposal came after discussions with state leaders and the families of the victims of the 1976 tragedy.
'We are also suggesting that a representative from the federal government be invited to the occasion so that we can collectively commemorate the tragedy and reflect on the historical context of Sabah's political past,' he said.
Ellron, who is also the Sook assemblyman, made the announcement during a press conference held at the 49th Double Six remembrance ceremony at the memorial site in Sembulan today.
He also highlighted the positive response to a poetry competition held in conjunction with the event, which drew 132 participants, reflecting strong public interest and artistic engagement.
The Double Six tragedy, which occurred on June 6, 1976, involved the crash of a Sabah Air GAF N-22B Nomad aircraft just three kilometres from the then Kota Kinabalu Airport. The crash claimed the lives of 11 people, including Sabah's fifth Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and six other state ministers.
Those who perished were: Tun Fuad Stephens (Chief Minister), Datuk Salleh Sulong (State Finance Minister),
Datuk Peter Mojuntin (Local Government and Housing Minister), Datuk Chong Tien Vun (State Works and Communication Minister), Datuk Darius Binion (Assistant Minister to Deputy Chief Minister), Datuk Wahid Peter Andu (Permanent Secretary to the State Finance Ministry), Dr Syed Hussein Wafa (Director of State Economic Planning Unit), Ishak Atan (Private Secretary to the then Federal Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah), Corporal Said Mohammad (bodyguard to Tun Fuad) and Captain Gandhi J. Nathan (pilot).
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