PM: Let crash site investigation proceed without further delay
Paying their respects: Najib and Rosmah observing a moment of silence at the gates of the medical military base in Hilversum. With them are Dr Subramaniam (second from left) and Fauziah.
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THE HAGUE: Malaysia wants an immediate ceasefire to be imposed in and around the MH17 crash site in Ukraine to allow international investigators unfettered access for evidence gathering, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He requested that all sides respect the 298 lives lost and the integrity of the site so that the stalled investigation could proceed without further delay.
Although the conflict in Eastern Ukraine might not be easily resolved, Najib stressed the passengers and crew onboard MH17 had nothing to do with it.
He said it was only when the investigators could do their work that justice could be achieved.
Najib was addressing reporters after his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Binnenhof at 11.30am yesterday.
He said they had discussed about the continued military activity at the crash site, the inability of international investigators to deploy across it and the human remains that might still be lying there.
Najib said it was imperative that all remains at the crash site be repatriated as soon as possible for the sake of their grieving families.
He said Malaysian experts were already here helping out with the painstaking task of identification, adding that the Government was ready to provide more assistance if needed.
“The flags flying at half-mast told their own story: of the nations which lost their sons and daughters. And of our determination to work together to bring them home.
“Malaysia stands with the Netherlands, with Australia, with all countries whose people have been lost. We stand together, united in grief and ready to help however we can,” he said.
Najib said a team of 68 Malaysian police officers had arrived in Kiev and would work together with the Dutch and Australian teams to help secure access to the site.
He expressed gratefulness to the Netherlands for taking a lead role in the international team, adding that Malaysia fully supported the international investigation.
“On behalf of Malaysia, I would like to thank Prime Minister Rutte and the Dutch people for all they have done, and continue to do, for the victims of this senseless and tragic act,” he said.
Rutte said Malaysia and the Netherlands shared three priorities, which were bringing all the remains home, determining the cause of the disaster and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
He said both countries were united in grief at the death of so many of their citizens on July 17 – 193 Dutch and 43 Malaysians.
“We will have to seriously take into account the possibility that we will not be able to gain access (to the crash site) in the coming days either.
“But you may rest assured that we will continue to try again and again to reach the crash site so that the experts can do their work,” he said.
Rutte said the repatriation of the victims was the top priority, adding that the pain caused by the tragedy was “almost impossible to bear”.
Noting that the MH17 tragedy had followed the earlier unresolved disappearance of MH370, Rutte said this was a very serious test of Malaysia’s resilience.
“It is very sad that both our countries are grieving. But it is inspiring to see how we are working together in these difficult times to bring the victims home,” he said.
“It is very sad that both our countries are grieving. But it is inspiring to see how we are working together in these difficult times to bring the victims home,” he said.
On his one-day working visit to the Netherlands, Najib also signed the condolence book for MH17 victims which was opened by the Dutch government.
He then proceeded to Hilversum, where he and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor laid a bouquet of flowers at the gates of the medical military base, as well as observed a moment of silence.
Their flowers joined hundreds of other flowers laid by mourners ever since the first batch of coffins arrived from Ukraine last Wednesday.
Najib is the highest ranking official from all the countries involved in MH17 tragedy to have made this gesture of respect.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on the progress of the disaster victim identification (DVI) process at the base by Dutch leader Arie de Bruin.
He was accompanied by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin and Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands Datuk Fauziah Mohd Taib.
