Najib met Putin to seek justice for MH17

Najib (left) with Putin in Sochi, Russia.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the perpetrators of the Malaysia Airline flight MH17 tragedy must be brought to justice.

Najib, the Prime Minister, spoke of his meeting with Putin at the two-day Asean-Russia Commemorative Summit on Sochi, which began on Thursday and said that he had put forward Malaysia's stand on the disaster which took place over Ukrainian airspace on July 17, 2014.

"In the discussions, I stressed that Malaysia wants the masterminds behind the tragedy to be brought to justice.

"I hope that the families can give the Government a chance and the time it needs to handle the issue and spearhead the call for justice through all processes in international law.

"The government will strive for all parties to get a satisfactory explanation and closure," said Najib.

Najib added that after two years, some families would be frustrated and demand immediate answers and justice.

"I understand and feel the sadness and pain experienced by the families of the victims. I lost my step-grandmother, Puan Sri Siti Amirah Prawira Kusuma in the tragedy," said Najib in a post on his website Saturday evening.

"I see that we have started on positive steps towards seeking justice for the family members and victims of MH17 when the Russian President and I reached an agreement that follow-up action will be determined after the results of the investigation are presented by the Joint Investigation Team in October. I pray that the families of all the victims remain patient in facing the challenges," said Najib.

Flight MH17, a Boeing 777-200ER airliner, was shot down on while on a scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The crash, which killed all 298 on board, is believed to have been caused by a surface-to-air missile.