Liow rubbishes report over Malaysia's alleged failure to cooperate in MH17 investigations

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has rubbished a report by the Australian News Corp that Malaysia failed to cooperate with the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) in the investigation process into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 last year.

He insisted that not only had Malaysia given full support to DSB, the country had also put in a lot of effort and worked closely with the board.

"I am disheartened and sad to hear this kind of news because Malaysia has given full support for the investigation.

"As the final report had stated clearly that Malaysia gave full cooperation...so, it is not true to say that Malaysia has not given cooperation to DSB. DSB has received our full support and cooperation," he told reporters here today when asked to comment on the issue.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the rebranding of Institut Vokasional Tunku Abdul Rahman (VTAR), which was fomerly known as Institut Kojadi here today.

Australian News Corp reported that the DSB in its technical investigation report released on Oct 13, allegedly criticised Malaysia by stating that the country had cooperated only "in a limited way" in the investigation process.

Commenting on Russia's statement that the surface-to-air BUK missile that had shot down the ill-fated aircraft did not belong to them, Liow said Russia was not accused as the culprit behind the incident.

What was important was to let the criminal investigation process be carried out to narrow down the real perpetrators of the crime, he noted.

"Russia need not deny it since there is nothing in the report pointing at Russia," he said.

Soon after the report was released, Russia had described the report as one-sided, saying the country had decommissioned the BUK missiles in 2011.

All 298 passengers and crew in the Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight perished when the aircraft was shot down from 33,000 feet over the troubled east of Ukraine air space on July 17 last year.