Najib to visit the Netherlands Wednesday

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will leave for the Netherlands on Wednesday, to discuss the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 crash in Ukraine.

Najib would also meet his counterpart, Mark Rutte at The Hague, to discuss in particular, whether Malaysian pathologists could be of assistance in expediting the process of identifying the human remains.

"Both prime ministers will also discuss securing full access to the crash site, so that the international team can complete a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the crash, and who is responsible," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said today.

Malaysia on Monday (July 21) had secured an agreement for the release of the MH17 victims' bodies and black boxes, as well as for international investigators to have access to the crash site in Grabove, eastern Ukraine.

This decision was reached, following the agreement Najib brokered with the leader of the crash site, Alexander Borodai.

Najib had said Malaysia's agreement with those in control of the crash site had three central elements, namely the transfer of the black boxes to Malaysia; return of the human remains; and, full access to the crash site given to international investigators.

The first two conditions have been met and the priority now is to ensure the international investigators are given full and secure access to the site.

"This will require the cooperation of those in control of the crash site and the Ukrainian armed forces," noted Najib.

According to the statement, since the agreement, a team of three Malaysian investigators had visited the crash site on three occasions, namely July 22, 23 and 24.

"Each visit lasted approximately three hours. The investigators managed to observe some parts of the crash site and take notes and photographs. However, as the wreckage has been scattered over a vast area, they were unable to visit the entire crash site," it said.

The Malaysian team believes it will require at least 30 investigators to cover the entire site, along with three Dutch investigators and an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) representative.

"Unfortunately, events on the ground, including ongoing fighting between Ukrainian and separatist forces hinder the deployment of such a large contingent of investigators," the statement said.

The Malaysian investigators are currently compiling a preliminary report of their findings, and once the report is finalised, they plan to return to the crash site, if possible, with a bigger investigation team and in more secure circumstances.

During Najib's visit to the Netherlands, the prime minister will also visit the forensic centre where the bodies of the crash victims were taken to, and sign a condolence book.

The MAS MH17 aircraft crashed in troubled eastern Ukraine on July 17, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 298 people - 283 passengers and 15 crew - on board.

The Malaysian special investigation team comprising 131 personnel from various government agencies arrived at the Kiev International Airport in Ukraine last Saturday.