Special meeting today to discuss reception of MH17 crash victims

The government will announce the handling and ceremonial aspects to receive the bodies of Malaysians killed in the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 crash after a proposal on the matter is submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin next week.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said a special meeting would be held today during which the relevant ministers and agencies would submit proposals on the matter.

He said among the matters to be decided would be on the role and responsibilities of the ministries and agencies concerned.

"It will be the first meeting of the 10 Ministerial Coordination Committee under the patronage of the deputy prime minister," he said, adding that the meeting would be held at noon at the Defence Ministry and would be chaired by him.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hishammuddin also said that the views and suggestions given at the meeting would be submitted to Muhyiddin at a special meeting, scheduled for next week.

The meeting will discuss in detail preparations to receive the bodies of the Malaysian victims, as well as the demands made by their next of kin.

Those who will be involved in the meeting are Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

It will also be attended by the ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and Datuk Wee Ka Siong.

Several agencies will also be involved, including the Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim), National Unity and Integration Department, MAS and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

The ceremony to receive the bodies will be held at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport, on a date to be announced later.

The MAS plane on flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 while on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board.

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down by a missile over the troubled country.

Besides Malaysians, nationals from the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Canada and New Zealand were among the 298 passengers and crew on board.