Malaysia, Netherlands to seek closure on MH17 tragedy

These were among the hopes that emanated from Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as they met in Malaysia's adminstrative capital and deliberated on the MH17 tragedy.

Najib in a joint press conference with Rutte in Perdana Putra today in conjunction with the latter's one-day official visit, said Malaysia was welcomed to play a significant role in ascertaining what really happened in the MH17 crash incident.

"We (Malaysia) are most welcome to play a bigger role and take part in the recovery and investigation into what really happened to MH17 and we hope in the coming days this will be more evident," he said.

Najib said he and Rutte agreed that the affected countries must work very closely together, with priority given to recovering the wreckage to enable the final report to be issued in due course.

"We have to ascertain what truly happened to the plane without reasonable doubt. We have knowledge, we have plenty of knowledge but that knowledge has to be backed by solid forensic evidence," he said.

Najib said Malaysia was committed to bringing the perpetrators of the downing of MH17 to justice.

"This is our key commitment. We must do everything possible to ensure justice is done and seen," he said.

Najib expressed gratitude to the Netherlands government for its assistance which had enabled all Malaysian victims to be identified and returned to their next-of-kin.

"This is an important step and we hope it brings the prospect of closure for the families who are deeply affected as the investigation on MH17 continues," he said.

Najib described Rutte's visit to Malaysia as a clear manifestation that "in grief there could be a silver lining".

"And that silver lining of course has brought our two countries closer together and we are committed to continue to move together in the context of MH17," he said.

Rutte, meanwhile, said it was essential for Malaysia and the Netherlands to continue to work closely together to keep the subject high on the international agenda.

"The next of kin have been living in agony for many months, the agony of uncertainty over what exactly happened (to MH17)," he added.

Rutte, during the question-and-session session, said Malaysia would be part of the MH17 investigation team, led by the Netherlands.

"With 44 people (Malaysians) killed in the crash and the aircraft (MH17) was carrying the Malaysian flag, so it is only logical that Malaysia gets involved," he said.

To another question, Rutte said the International Criminal Court might not be the suitable judicature to decide on the MH17 case.

He said it would depend on the investigations carried out by the Dutch Transport Safety Board which would then decide what would be the best court to hear the case.

Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board.