MH17: Malaysia hopes to receive preliminary conclusion by year-end

Malaysia hopes to receive the preliminary conclusions on the forensic research report of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, which went down in Donetsk, Ukraine, two years ago, by the later part of this year.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the investigation report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising Australia, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine, would also include the type of weapon that was used and other pertinent details.

He said the Malaysian government hoped that the international community would continue to lend support in ensuring the perpetrators of this tragedy be held accountable for their action.

"Two years ago, 298 lives were lost in a senseless and unjust crime that saw the downing of flight MH17," he said in a statement here today, in conjunction with the MH17 second anniversary tomorrow.

The Boeing B777 aircraft, which was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and carrying 298 passengers, including crew, was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

With JIT's criminal investigations ongoing, Liow said the JIT team remained committed and determined in its pursuit to bring justice to the criminals responsible for the loss of so many innocent lives.

"Once again, we reiterate our call for safer skies around the world. International cooperation must be strengthened in order to improve security standards in civil aviation.

"This includes the implementation of real time global tracking of commercial aircraft as well as addressing the risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones," he added.

Liow said: "As we mark the second year anniversary of the MH17 tragedy, our thoughts and prayers are with the next-of-kin of the victims.

"Rest assured, the Government of Malaysia will not give up in our quest to ensure justice prevails."