The Orang Ulu community in Bario, Ba' kelalan and Long Semado will press for an independent public inquiry or royal commission of inquiry into the causes of the July 12 helicopter tragedy that claimed seven lives, including "flaws" in the 18-day search-and-rescue (SAR) operations.

A reliable source from the community told malaysiakini today that the Lun Bawang Association is likely to make a public statement soon to call for the inquiry in order "to find answers to a lot of questions" regarding the crash and the SAR operations.

Several close family members of the victims are said to have been greatly distraught by some of public statements made by politicians while the search was in progress and after the discovery of the helicopter wreckage.

Politicians took charge of the first few days of the search operations before the police stepped in.

"Family members of the victims want to know the truth about what happened," the source said.

Those who perished in Sarawak's worst helicopter tragedy were state Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Office Dr Judson Tagal, Padawan Municipal Council chairperson Lawrence Th'ng, Kelabit contractor Marcus Raja, Sesco CEO Roger Wong, Sesco engineers Jason Eng and Ling Kian Ho and the pilot Captain Samsudin Hashim.

Educational needs

The state-owned Hornbill Skyways' Bell 206 Lone Ranger helicopter went down about 10 minutes flying time from Bario in the thick jungles at the foothills of Gunung Murud.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party has donated RM100,000 to the family of the late Judson (left) who was also the party's secretary-general. Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud (right) has also disclosed that the government will take care of the educational needs of the children of the crash victims.

Meanwhile, malaysiakini understands that the Department of Civil Aviation report on the crash of another Hornbill Skyways helicopter last July, which killed the head of the Borneo Evangelical Chrich Rev Katib, is still not ready.

Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy said recently that the report into the latest incident in the Bario Highlands would be ready in a month's time and that he has directed it be sent directly to him for his attention.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's correspondent based in Kuching.