PUTRAJAYA: The national day of mourning for victims of the MH17 tragedy was only for a day but no one will be stopped from observing a moment of silence in private for the remains that continue to be brought home, says Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

The nation came to a standstill to honour and respect Malaysians who perished in the July 17 crash over eastern Ukraine when the remains of 20 victims landed at the KL International Airport on Aug 22.

On Sunday, a minute of silence was observed by those receiving the second batch of coffins at the KLIA’s Bunga Raya Complex.

A third batch of remains is scheduled to arrive on Aug 30.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 31 of the 43 Malaysians on board the doomed Malaysia Airlines craft had so far been identified.

“The country has observed the national moment of silence on Friday and that was it.

“We are not going to ask the nation to observe a moment of silence each time any of the remaining remains of the victims arrive.

“A moment of silence will only be observed by those present to receive the remains at the Bunga Raya Complex. The public, however, would not be stopped if they wished to observe it in private,” Ahmad Shabery told reporters after opening the five-day Nusantara Leadership Camp here yesterday.

The camp involves participants from Malaysia and Indonesia to mark the National Day celebrations of both countries this month.

On another Merdeka event, Ahmad Shabery said the Chow Kit Road 2.0 concert at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman has been renamed Memori Chow Kit Road in line with the government decision to tone down the National Day celebrations.

“We dropped the ‘concert’ word as some might accuse us of being insensitive with the present situation. We have screened the songs and re-arranged the music.

“Life must go on, we can’t be mourning all the time as that will have a negative effect on the country.

“They (those who perished in doomed MH17 flight and the missing passengers of MH370) are never forgotten but we need to look forward and stir up the Merdeka spirit,” he said.