The government will continue the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 although the whole country was focusing on the MH17 crash tragedy, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said the whole world was now giving attention to Malaysia following the shooting down of the MH17 aircraft in Ukraine last month, but this did not mean the search for the MH370 would be stopped.

In fact, he said, he would be going to Australia at the end of the month to ensure that the search mission for MH370 proceeded smoothly.

"I'm still waiting for confirmation from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) on the latest position of the ships KD Mutiara and Bunga Mas 5 before leaving for Perth.

"I wish to inspire our personnel besides giving a signal to family members of the victims that while we are busy with the MH17 crash, we don't forget about the search for MH370 which is still going on," he said after opening the 2014 Delegates Meeting of the Tanjong Piai Umno division, here today.

Also present were Tanjong Piai Umno division head, Datuk Md Othman Yusof, his deputy, Datuk Jefridin Atan and State Assembyman for Kukup, Suhaimi Salleh.

On the MH17 crash, Hishammuddin said the government was already prepared to receive the arrival of 16 remains of the victims from Amsterdam, Holland which were expected to arrive at the federal capital on Aug 22.