‘More should be involved in remembering Double Six tragedy'
Remembering the fallen: Ellron (second from left) at the commemoration held at the crash site in Sembulan, Sabah.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government expects greater participation in next year's 50th anniversary of the Double Six tragedy, with plans to invite federal leaders and involve more students from schools and universities.
Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin said this would help deepen the public's understanding of the tragedy's historical significance.
He said this was discussed with several leaders during the 49th anniversary commemoration held at the crash site in Sembulan yesterday, which included a wreath-laying ceremony and a poetry competition featuring 132 participants, a sign of continued public engagement with the legacy of the crash.
'This is to ensure that we continue to remember this tragedy and reaffirm the facts about Sabah's political history,' said Ellron.
The Double Six tragedy, which occurred on June 6, 1976, claimed the life of then chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens and wiped out nearly half of Sabah's state Cabinet, marking a turning point in the state's political landscape.
The other 10 victims were his eldest son Johari, Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Datuk Chong Thien Vun, Datuk Salleh Sulong, Datuk Darius Binion, Datuk Wahid Peter Andau, Dr Syed Hussein Wafa, Ishak Atan, Korp Said Mohammad and Gandhi J. Nathan.
Although the official investigation report was declassified in 2023, questions and public scepticism about the cause of the crash persist.
Meanwhile, NGO Sunduvan Sabah continues its efforts to have the tragedy included in Sabah's school syllabus as part of efforts to educate the younger generation.
Its chairman Aloysius Danim Siap said the incident must be formally shared with younger generations of Sabahans.
The group will present its proposal to the state education director and publish a book compiling verified historical records, personal testimonies and an analysis of the social and political impact of the crash.
Meanwhile, the upcoming redevelopment of Prince Philip Park at Tanjung Aru could provide greater prominence to the Double Six tragedy.
Tanjung Aru Eco-Development Sdn Bhd (TAED) chairman Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said plans are in place to include a memorial replica of the ill-fated Nomad aircraft as part of the park's redevelopment.
'The idea is not to relocate the existing memorial in Sembulan, but to create an additional site of remembrance within the redeveloped Prince Philip Park,' he said after attending the 49th Double Six anniversary commemoration.
'We understand that some family members of the victims may feel uncomfortable about a replica being displayed as it could revive painful memories. I respect that and would like to meet them personally to explain our intentions. If they object, we are willing to adjust our plans,' he said.
He stressed that the memorial is not meant to sensationalise the incident, but rather to honour the legacy of the leaders who perished.
He estimated the cost of the Double Six memorial component to be between RM100,000 and RM200,000, forming a small part of the larger RM35mil park revitalisation.
He also cited a recent talk he gave to an NGO in Peninsular Malaysia, where most of the attendees had never heard of the Double Six incident.
'This is why I support the idea of incorporating the Double Six tragedy and its historical context into the national school syllabus,' he said.
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