PUTRAJAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The minute of silence to be observed for the victims of the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is expected to be held some 45 minutes after the special plane transporting the remains of the victims taxies down the runway at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Friday morning.
The one minute is expected to fall sometime between 10.45am and 11.30am, said Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
"We hope the people can be ready for the moment of silence expected to be held during that time.
"An announcement will be made for the nation to stand and observe the one minute of silence," he told a joint press conference on Wednesday on the ceremony to receive the remains of the MH17 victims.
Traffic is expected to come to a standstill at the following locations during the moment of silence - Penang Bridge, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad in Kuala Lumpur, KLIA, KLIA2 and Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Baru.
Ahmad Shabery said that people could also observe the moment of silence in their office, vehicles and even in school.
He said the plane transporting the remains would be here by 9.45am on Friday, if it depart from Amsterdam at 2pm (Netherlands time).
"We have asked all radio stations to broadcast the ceremony at Kompleks Bunga Raya.
"As for television, we hope that they would not show entertainment programmes except for sports on that day.
"However, we want all channels, be they movie or drama, to broadcast the moment of silence, of which the template will be decided later," he said.
Ahmad Shabery said police personnel would be on hand to manage the traffic flow for the convoy of the remains enroute to the burial grounds in the respective states.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mu'adzam Shah would be attending the ceremony at KLIA while the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah is expected to be in Ipoh to receive the remains.
Elected representatives, especially all Members of Parliament and foreign ambassadors, have also been invited for the ceremony at KLIA.
