M’sia vows to seek closure

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will remain committed in the effort to provide closure and justice for family members of the 298 victims of Flight MH17 shot down over Ukraine six years ago, says the Transport Minister.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said as the world marked the sixth year of the tragic incident, Malaysia stood in solidarity with the next of kin of the victims – who included 43 Malaysian passengers – in seeking a firm resolution to the court trial.

“This investigation and court trial must not be allowed to wane with time nor in submission to political pressure by any party or state.

“Only a thorough and exhaustive process of law in bringing the perpetrators of this inhumane crime to justice can honour the victims and the next of kin,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Flight MH17 was on its way to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when it was shot down near Torez in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, about 40km from the Russian border, on July 17, 2014.

Dr Wee urged all states and actors to cooperate with the investigation.

He added that Malaysia reiterated its commitment as part of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to a judicial process conducted in a credible and transparent manner, based on the rule of law.

In June 2019, the JIT, also comprising Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine, announced that three Russians namely Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko would be charged with the downing of MH17.

International arrest warrants were issued for the suspects over the incident.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has reiterated its full support to the legal process involved to find justice for the victims of the doomed flight, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell reiterated support for all efforts to establish the truth and achieve justice for the victims and their next of kin.

“The European Union continues to feel deep sympathy for all those who lost their loved ones,” he said in a statement.

He said in recalling its previous statements, the EU takes note of all steps that have been taken in this regard and expects Russia to accept its responsibility and to fully cooperate with efforts to establish accountability.

Pre-trial hearings began in Amsterdam in March. Prosecutors say the defendants helped arrange the Russian missile system used to shoot down the civilian aircraft.