KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — The federal government will pay at least RM130,000 each to the families of four of five victims killed in last month’s Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Miri, Sarawak.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), the RM130,000 lump-sum payment – which comprises payment in lieu of unused leave (GCR), derivative gratuity, funeral management assistance, and death ex-gratia payment – will be made to the next-of-kin of the four Ministry of Health (MOH) staff killed in the Long Lellang tragedy.
Monthly derivative pension payments, which are to be distributed among eligible beneficiaries according to their respective shares, will be made to the dependants from October 21.
The four deceased health workers were medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin from Kelantan, as well as assistant medical officer Alexson Adit Henry and staff nurses Jessie Paya Jok and Debra Moset. The latter three were from Sarawak.
MOH’s statement today didn’t announce any federal payment for the family of the fifth victim who perished in the September 8 FDS chopper crash: pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, who was employed by helicopter operator Layang Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd.
“MOH is committed to ensuring that the families continue to receive due attention, with benefit and assistance matters being coordinated comprehensively, transparently, and compassionately,” said the MOH.
“In addition, the next-of-kin will also receive a dependant’s pension and benefits under the Work-Related Disaster Ex-Gratia Scheme, which are currently being processed by the Pension Division’s Sarawak Branch and the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.
“The disbursement of this assistance forms part of MOH’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the welfare of the victims’ families. MOH recognises that no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one. MOH hopes that these payments will help ease, to some extent, the financial burden and day-to-day responsibilities faced by the bereaved families.”
The MOH’s proposal of posthumous promotions for its four staff who died in the line of duty, while serving remote communities in Sarawak, was also approved by the Public Service Promotion Board last October 13.
“MOH is fully committed to ensuring that the disbursement of pension benefits and other eligible assistance to the victims’ families is expedited, in collaboration with all parties involved.”
In interviews with CodeBlue published last week, the families of the two Miri victims – Alexson and Jessie – called out the lack of assistance from the MOH, including during the immediate aftermath of the September 8 crash. They said Layang Layang Aerospace had covered the funeral expenses.
Alexson’s widow, Stephanie Essah Incham, is a single mother and homemaker raising two young children aged five and two; her husband was the family’s sole breadwinner.
Zainol Afiq’s widow, Nor Izzati Syamimi Suhaimi, then came out to denounce MOH’s silence and lack of support, adding that she expected federal assistance because her husband was part of the FDS team even though he was a private-sector employee.
Layang Layang Aerospace, she noted, provided financial assistance for all five families.
The Sarawak state government similarly didn’t discriminate between the victims, announcing RM100,000 contributions to each of the five families, plus full education sponsorships for their school-going children, the very next day after the September 8 crash.
Last Saturday, all five victims – Dr Ainul Baraah, Alexson, Jessie, Debra, and Zainol Afiq – were posthumously awarded the Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS) in recognition of their service and sacrifice, in conjunction with the 80th birthday celebration of Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
