Friday, April 9, 2010

Be Careful What You Take From 'Wikipedia'

Hantu Laut

I do, sometimes, use Wikipedia for reference but usually check with other sources if I have my doubts on the accuracy of the information.

One must not forget that Wikipedia is not perfect because it is written collaboratively by the people who use it and can be edited and changed on the same basis.In spite of those weaknesses, it is still a good reference source.

The recent controversy on the re-opening of the 'Double Six' tragedy got me curious whether Wikipedia carry such information and to my surprise it does but with grave error.

The full text below.

Double Six Tragedy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Double Six Tragedy, also known as the Double Six Crash, was a plane crash which took place on June 6, 1976 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The plane, operated by Sabah Air, coming from Labuan crashed in the sub-district of Sembulan in Kota Kinabalu upon approaching Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The crash killed everyone on board the flight, including Tun Fuad Stephens, the Chief Minister of Sabah at that time. The other passengers on the flight were State Ministers Datuk Salleh Sulong, Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Chong Thien Vun, and assistant minister Darius Binion. Others who perished were the then Secretary of State for the Ministry of Finance of Sabah Datuk Wahid Peter Andau, Director of Economic Planning Unit of Sabah Dr. Syed Hussein Wafa, Isak Atan (Private Secretary to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah), Corporal Said Mohammad (bodyguard to Tun Fuad Stephens), Captain Gandhi Nathan (the pilot of the aircraft) leaving tun fuad's son johari alive until today.

The reason behind the crash is uncertain. Immediately after the accident there were allegations of foul play because of the death of the Chief Minister, but no evidence of such has ever been found.

The error in the above is regarding the son of the late Tun Fuad, Johari Stephens. He actually perished in the crash.There was no survivor at all.

I was at the crash site soon after it happened.The area was eventually cordoned off by the police.


A monument was built on the crash site which has recently been Incorporated into a small park by a private developer.

Taking step to correct the error.


Newspaper cutting,Daily Express 7 June 1976.

Click to enlarge.






Edited and error corrected in Wikipedia.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

investigation reports from memory -the plane was supposedly overloaded and as it turned towards the airport at approach speeds, it lost lift and tip stalled, leading to the crash - no conspiracy.....those were simpler days!