SARAWAK mourns this week and the whole nation mourns with her.

After 17 agonising days, the intensive search for the seven on board the missing Hornbill Skyways helicopter in the mountainous Borneo terrain is finally over. As fate would have it, none survived.

As I write this, DNA and forensic experts are involved in the nightmarish and tedious identification process of the bodies which are reported to be badly decomposed.

If there is any consolation to us, and to the family members in particular, it is that those who perished did not suffer. The drop from such a height would mean death on impact.

For the families of those who perished in the tragedy, no words can describe their pains and sorrows. As such, I will not attempt to do so.

However, as we mourn with those whom they left behind, we do not remember them as minister, or Datuk, or CEO or prominent individuals. Rather, we think of them as husbands, fathers, and bread winners. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them and to their loved ones.

As I reflect over the past eventful 17 days of the tragedy, I am reminded, firstly of death and how to be always prepared to face it. Christianity has taught me that "death comes like a thief in the night and you do not know the hour when the Lord will come." So be prepared.

Life at its 'prime'

A colleague in the office exclaimed a while ago, "What a waste! These people have to go at the prime of their lives." upon hearing the news that none survived the heli crash.

I suppose my colleague is right in some ways. But I must also ask when is the prime of our lives and what is considered to be the "prime"? Is it when we have acquired power, position and wealth plus the status symbol to go with them? Or should it rather be the time when we have successfully passed on the goodness and faith of the world to others and made a difference in their lives. Think about it and make your own judgement.

This week, we also witness PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's close brush with death. Coming back from a serious heart attack, he says he now knows "the value of life." Even a spiritual leader can be severely tested, let alone ordinary mortals like most of us.

The moral of Nik Aziz'z episode is that while we must always be prepared for death, we must also value life and live it to the fullest.

Secondly, I am glad that the search and rescue (SAR) operation has actually been a national effort, with ministers and officials from the federal side heavily involved. In fact, given the help of groups and use of equipment supplied by others from outside the country, the SAR operation can even be considered an international one.

This operation is also said to be the biggest ever mounted in the country. Towards the final days before the wreckage was located, it is said that about 2000 people were actually involved.

Reward the commandos

While all deserve recognition for their relentless effort in the operation, I feel I must particularly salute the two VAT 69 commandos who were the first to reach the crash site where the helicopter was perched precariously on a ravine near Mt Murud.

The two commandos, Rochus Lagan from Sarawak and Rauf Mulup from Negeri Sembilan were winched down from the police helicopter in adverse weather. It is said that they volunteered to do the job despite being warned of the imminent dangers. They put their lives at risk to save others.

While their immediate task was to check for survivors, they found none unfortunately. But Rochus and Rauf remained at the site in the dark and cold until the next morning when more help could arrive to remove the bodies.

I hope these two commandos would be duly recognised and rewarded in some ways by the government for their courage and their sense to duty despite the danger.

It is unfortunate that none of those on board survived to tell the extraordinary tale of heroism and survival. But perhaps the media in Sarawak could interview Rochus and Rauf for their account of being winched down the helicopter for their first encounter with the bodies of the victims. That would certainly make a very good story and I, for one, would look forward to hearing of their heroic tale.

I am also overjoyed with the comment from Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Abang Wahab Julai that "calling off the search and rescue operation has never crossed our mind" as the operation took its toll on his men and was even described at one stage as "searching for a needle in a haystack."

It's not that the operation would ever be called off at all but such reassuring words from the police chief at a time like this is indeed comforting to the families of those missing.

Too many accidents

Thirdly, I am very happy that the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has promised a thorough investigation into the crash.

DCA Deputy Director Yahya Abdul Rahman who is heading a four-man probe mission gave the assurance that no stones would be left unturned in the investigations. He also said that witnesses in Pa'Lungan and Bario who saw the helicopter on the afternoon of July 12 will also be interviewed in the course of the probe.

It is about time that the DCA and those involved in the aviation industry in the state take the matter seriously as air crashes involving helicopters and light aircraft are getting a little too frequent for comfort in Sarawak.

I also hope that the request from the Lun Bawang community to the government for an independent public inquiry to ascertain the causes of the accident will be heeded. They have just lost two of their "favourite sons" and that is due to them as much as towards building public confidence in air travel in the interior.

The next few days will be extremely difficult for the families, relatives and friends of those who perished. We can only hope and pray that at this moment of grief and pain, they may find the strength to move on as their husbands and fathers would have wanted them to.

To Judson, my friend, it was a privilege to have known you personally. I'm sure that history would one day record your commitment in the political struggle for a better future for your Lun Bawang community.

But more importantly, your profound devotion to your Christian faith has now given you the peace and joy in the heavenly kingdom which you rightly deserve. For that, we all rejoice with you as well. Farewell friend. Rest in peace.

To Roger Wong, Lawrence Th'ng, Marcus Raja, Jason Eng, Ling Tian Ho and Capt Samsuddin Hashim, let me say this: Although our paths had not crossed, but from what I've heard and read from your family and friends, I believe all of you must have contributed your fair share towards the progress of the state and nation in your various spheres of endeavour.

"Your work is now completed." Rest in peace.

KS PAUL is a free-lance journalist in Sarawak. This article is also published in the Borneo Post today.