MH17: 500 participants walk in remembrance of victims

About 500 people took part in a walk here Saturday morning as a sign of their empathy and sympathy for those who perished in the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy on July 17.

The programme, organised by NGO Soroptimist International Ipoh (SI Ipoh) began at 7.30am at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park, or more popularly known as 'Padang Polo'.

People from all walks of life, especially from Ipoh, took part in the walk at the park after signing a memorial book.

The participants, clad in white, carried 298 stalks of white chrysanthemum symbolising the number of victims killed in the tragedy.

A total of 298 white balloons were also released into the sky at the end of the programme.

SI Ipoh president Lanka Devi Sinniah told reporters that the programme showed the people's concern and support for the families of the victims who were on board the doomed Boeing 777-200 aircraft when it went down in eastern Ukraine.

MAS Flight MH17 was believed to have been shot down by separatists but no one has claimed responsibility for the heinous act.

The memorial book will be handed over to MAS as a sign of remembrance.