KOTA KINABALU: Despite the declassification of the Double Six tragedy investigation report last year, the late Datin Nancy Mary Mobijohn died without knowing why the report was kept classified under the Official Secrets Act for many years.
Last year in April, the federal government released a report of the plane crash that killed 11 people in Sembulan 48 years ago today.
The other 10 were Sabah chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens; Communications and public works minister Datuk Chong Thien Vun; Sabah finance minister Datuk Salleh Sulong; deputy chief minister's assistant minister Datuk Darius Binion; finance minister's secretary Datuk Wahid Peter Andau; economic planning unit director Dr Syed Hussein Wafa; Finance minister's private secretary Ishak Atan; chief minister's bodyguard Corporal Said Mohammad; chief minister's son Johari Fuad Stephens; and pilot Gandhi J. Nathan.
However, the 20-page probe report stated that there was no evidence of "sabotage, fire or explosion" in the crash of the Australian-made Nomad N-22B 9M-ATZ aircraft.
Nancy, who was widowed and raised five young children after the incident, passed away in October last year.
"She was happy knowing what actually happened (through the report) but the thing is, she passed away not knowing the reason why they held this document under OSA," said Datuk Donald Mojuntin, who is the eldest son of Nancy and former housing and local goverment minister Datuk Peter Mojuntin.
"It was quite sad. Knowing my mum, she's a fighter also…She wanted some explanation, she wanted some sort of restitution after knowing the fact that the report was held from us," he said when met at the Double Six Memorial Service at the tragedy monument here.
He also regretted that his two sisters had also passed away without knowing what happened to their father.
Donald, who was also a former lawmaker, said when the then government decided to put the tragedy and its investigation under OSA, the move had deprived the affected families the right to take any recourse during that time.
Donald said that there could be some actions to be taken then if the report was released earlier.
"But now it is nearly 50 years (since the accident), the family has been deprived of that and if we don't do anything, it's like we're not respecting the memory of our parents.
"If you just accept it as it is, I think that's not right. We must engage or the federal government must engage with us further after releasing the report, which we appreciate very much and we thank them very much for it."
Yesterday, Donald and two other next-of-kin of the crash victims issued a joint statement on pursuing legal action to seek compensation.
However, Donald said they are still willing to sit down with the federal government or their representatives to get final closure over this tragedy.
"Legal recourse is our last resort. The closure is not only for the family but Sabahans in general deserve to know what really happened and why it was put under this OSA."
Present at the memorial today were Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt; Inanam assemblyman Peto Galim; Tulid assemblyman Datuk Flovia Ng; and Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.