KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIANS congregated at places of worship to pray for those killed in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in Ukraine.

At Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields here, about 200 worshippers gathered to dedicate their morning service to the victims and their next of kin.

Temple president Sirisena Perera said they had prayed for the victims’ souls and, more importantly, for the families to cope in these difficult times.

“It is very difficult to accept this. Only four months ago, the disappearance of MH370 grappled our nation.

“Even before we found a closure to it, another tragedy has hit us,” he said.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam president R.S. Mohan Shan said temples nationwide will be conducting
special pooja (prayers) for the
victims and their families on Friday.

“We will also be praying for the country, which has been facing a lot of trials and tribulations since the beginning of the year.”

He said he was saddened by the incident that took 298 lives, and hoped that the perpetrator would be brought to justice.

Council of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said churches nationwide conducted special prayers for the victims on Friday, as soon as they heard of the horrific incident.

“We would be having another session tonight (yesterday night) in our church in Petaling Jaya.”

He urged Malaysians to come together to pray for the victims and their families.

“I pray that the nation will unite and stay together during this traumatic time.”

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia sent 10 imam to Ukraine to help with the religious rites for the victims.

Major mosques under Jakim and the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department will also hold solat hajat during the last 10 nights of Ramadan for the nation’s peace and safety.

-NST