Liow happy ICAO Council adopted resolution on downing of MH17

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he is pleased to note that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.

Liow said the Council had also reviewed the Report of the Task Force established under ICAO to explore Risks to Civil Aviation Arising From Conflict Zones.

"During the 203rd Session of ICAO Council in Montreal, Canada on Oct 27, I made recommendations before the Council including on mandatory timely reporting of relevant information regarding flight risks to the ICAO by member states.

"The world should view this tragedy as a wake-up call, we can no longer be complacent and must take preventative measures now," he said in a press statement here today.

MH17 aircraft, carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members, crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 after it was believed to have been shot down during its flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after opening the Malaysian Road Safety Council's 55th annual general meeting in KOTA BAHARU earlier today, Liow said the team investigating the tragedy was just waiting for the green light from the Ukrainian authorities to re-enter the crash site.

"This might be possible in a week or two. It will give the team a chance to find remains of more victims and more debris from the ill-fated plane which could help in the probe," he said.

Also present were Malaysian Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Dr Tam Weng Wah and the council's chairman for Kelantan Datuk Abdul Fattah Mahmood.