Miri: The remains of medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin and pilot Capt Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, two of the five victims of the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Baram, will be flown to their respective hometowns today. Following post-mortem procedures at the Forensic Department of Miri Hospital, which began at 4 am, the remains were taken to Jamal Ad-Din Mosque in Taman Jelita, Taman Tunku here for funeral prayers.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the prayers, held after the subuh prayers, were led by Miri Division Imam Ustaz Mohamad Ardy Putera Zainudin and attended by more than 300 people, including family members of the two victims. Zainol Afiq's father, Bee Sham Ahmad, and Dr Ainul Baraah's father, Kamarudin Salleh, expressed their appreciation to the congregation for attending the funeral prayers and paying their last respects to their children. Both fathers expressed their grief over the loss of their children, but said they accepted the loss as God's will.

Meanwhile, Jamal Ad-Din Mosque chairman Bujang Julaihi said it was the first time the congregation had performed funeral prayers for two individuals regarded as heroes for their service and sacrifice to the people of Sarawak. 'This is the first time for us here, especially as they were heroes who devoted themselves to serving the people of Miri. They will be missed in Miri, particularly by the people of Ulu Baram who benefited from their services,' he said.

The congregation then paid their last respects before the remains were taken to Miri Airport at 6.15 am. Dr Ainul Baraah's remains are scheduled to be flown to her hometown in Kelantan on a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft at 8.30 am. Zainol Afiq's remains are scheduled to be flown on a Malaysia Airlines flight at 12.10 pm.

The three other victims are nurses Debra Moset and Jessie Paya Jok, and assistant medical officer Alexson Adit Henry. According to today's arrangements, Debra's remains were claimed at 6.15 am and are scheduled to be flown to Kuching via Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd at 9 am. Alexson's remains are scheduled to be claimed at 8 am, while Jessie's remains at 12.30 pm.