Stop spreading baseless, hurtful speculations on MH17 - Liow

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has urged the public to stop making baseless speculations and spreading rumours about the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy, saying these would hurt the families of the victims.

"The investigative committee's report on the incident would be ready in October. So, in the meantime, I urge the people who have been spreading rumours about the tragedy and the investigation to stop doing so.

"Please respect the families of the deceased because spreading these baseless allegations will hurt them even more," he said when met at the Aidilfitri open house at Seri Perdana, the prime minister's official residence, here today.

Replying to a question, Liow said the people should not point fingers at MAS as MAS was not the only airline using the route over Ukraine.

"On the same day, there were flights from other airlines using that route around the same time too. There was one plane in front and one behind, while a few others came from the opposite direction.

"It was approved by the air traffic control and MAS was indeed following the proper procedure," Liow said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in a live interview with TV3, said: "We should make MH17 an event we do not forget, especially for those who have lost their loved ones.

"Behind such a tragedy, there is an opportunity to use it to unite as Malaysians, and we can develop the nation with better strength."

On July 17 last year, all 298 passengers and crew - the majority of them Dutch - died when the Boeing 777, on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine during heavy fighting.