We want to be on all MH17 committees, Malaysia tells Netherlands

Malaysia has informed the Netherlands government of its desire to sit on all committees to be set up to investigate every aspect of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 tragedy, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

He said Malaysia's participation in the committees was important to ensure that all information pertaining to the crash was obtained.

"The investigation does not only involve the cause of the incident but also the crime committed. We have informed the Netherlands government that we want to be a part of all the committees that are to be set up," he told reporters today.

He had accompanied the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, when Their Majesties met with the families of the Malaysian passengers and crew of Flight MH17 at a hotel here.

Liow said the ministry was in constant contact with the National Security Council and pathologists in the Netherlands to update itself on the developments pertaining to the tragedy.

He also said the bodies of the Malaysians were expected to be brought to Malaysia in stages if the identification process took too long.

"It all depends on the period of investigation and identification by the Netherlands government. If this can be done in a short period of time, then they can be brought all at once," he said.

Asked of his experience in Ukraine, Liow said everyone was under pressure because the primary focus was to remove the bodies and hand them over to the families.

"Our most pressing need was to remove the bodies and enable our investigators to get to the crash site. These were the two major challenges. When I arrived in Ukraine, there was much uncertainty," he said.

However, the assistance of various quarters, including meeting with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), yielded results. The Malaysian team was able to proceed from Kiev to Kharkiv and then to Donetsk.

"At the same time, we have to thank our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who helped to negotiate for our team to enter Donetsk to remove the bodies and the black boxes," he said.

Liow also thanked the Netherlands government for extending cooperation and support.

The MAS Flight MH17, was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17 when it went down in Ukraine. It was carrying 298 people - 283 passengers and 15 crew. It is believed that the Boeing 777-200 was shot down.

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