Double Six plane crash: Final investigation report declassified

PUTRAJAYA - The final investigation report on the Double Six plane crash that killed former Sabah chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens, four state ministers and six others 47 years ago has been downgraded and declassified.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was decided in the Cabinet meeting after taking into account the views by the Sabah people and claims made by the heirs.

"The report will be made public next week," he said in a press conference after chairing the Cabinet meeting, today.

He said the report revelation made in accordance with Section 2C of the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 1988) was in line with the openness and transparency practiced by the unity government.

"The issue brought up many questions and concerns because after 47 years there is a demand from the Sabah people to know the investigation results on the incident,” he said.

The Double Six crash on June 6, 1976 in Kota Kinabalu involved an Australian-built Nomad 9M-ATZ aircraft.

The plane was operated by Sabah Air en route from Labuan and crashed in the Sembulan district near the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Besides Tun Fuad, among the others who died in the crash were his eldest son Johari Stephens, his bodyguard Corporal Said Mohammad, state ministers Datuk Salleh Sulong, Datuk Peter Mojuntin and Chong Thien Vun and and state assistant minister Darius Binion.

The others who died were Sabah finance ministry permanent secretary Datuk Wahid Peter Andau, Isak Atan (private secretary to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who was the Finance Minister then) and pilot Captain Gandhi Nathan.

On March 8, it was reported that the Sabah High Court ordered Putrajaya to take necessary measures to declassify the report on the incident.