THE government has agreed to declassify the final federal investigation report on the June 6, 1976, plane crash that killed 11 people including then Sabah chief minister Fuad Stephens, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.

“Today, the cabinet takes into account the representations submitted by the people of Sabah over the years and claims made by the victims’ families, who want detailed information (on the investigation).

“This is in parallel with the policy of transparency practised by the unity government.

“Therefore, we decided that the final investigation report of the Sabah Air (Double Six) plane crash on June 6, 1976, will be declassified,” Anwar said today during a post-cabinet press conference in Putrajaya.

He said that such findings should not be kept away from the people, especially those affected. 

“Looking at those concerns, we feel that we owe it to the people, more so to the people of Sabah and the families concerned. 

“I don’t believe that findings such as this, which affect the families and the state, should be kept under the Official Secrets Act,” he said. 

The prime minister said an official statement on the matter will be released in the next several days and the full report will be made public by next week. 

Yesterday, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ordered the Malaysian government to declassify the federal investigation report on the June 6, 1976 plane crash, also popularly known as the “Double Six Tragedy”. 

High Court judge Christopher Chin Soo Yin issued a mandamus order directing Putrajaya to take the necessary steps to declassify or make public the Malaysian authorities’ investigation report into the Double Six Tragedy, involving the Nomad Aircraft 9M-ATZ with 11 people onboard.  

The judge also gave the Malaysian government three months or until June 8 to comply.  

Chin also said if such public disclosure of the investigation report requires any related action by the Australian government, the Malaysian government must immediately ensure Canberra acts accordingly to allow the declassification to be done promptly. – April 5, 2023.