Malaysia demands decisive action year after MH17 tragedy

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia today said it will continue to push the international community to take decisive action and find those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, nearly a year after the tragedy that killed all 298 people on board.

The investigations into the downing of MH17 are likely to go on until the end of the year Prime Minister Najib Razak said here adding that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) now had a clearer picture of the cause of the tragedy.

"They are scrutinising and investigating all possible scenarios in detail," he said during a memorial to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy next week.

He added the criminal investigation into the crash in Ukraine was still on going to ensure those responsible will face justice.

Najib said Malaysia was committed in the probe and was cooperating in both the criminal and technical investigations to get the truth for the sake of families and friends of the victims.

Some 1,000 people, including next-of-kin, foreign dignitaries, ministers and Malaysia Airlines management and crew attended the memorial.

Flight MH17 was shot down over conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine while en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam on July 17 last year killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

The aircraft is presumed to have been hit by a missile during fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists.

It was the second major tragedy to strike Malaysia's flag carrier last year after the mysterious disappearance of Flight MH370 carrying 239 people over the Indian Ocean.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai called on all countries to abide by the protocols involved in the reporting process to ensure there were no impediments to seeking justice for the victims' next-of-kin.

He said it was encouraging to see that criminal and technical investigations had progressed after the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) - which is leading the technical investigation - provided all countries involved with a draft of the final report in June.