Ekip
13 October 2015•Update: 13 October 2015
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
The probe into the downing of Flight MH17 will not stop with the final report by the Dutch Safety Board, but should continue until those responsible for the "murderous act" are held accountable, says Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
In a statement on his Facebook account following today's Dutch declaration that the Malaysia Airlines flight was shot down by a Russian-made BUK missile, Razak said that now is the time for action.
"Fifteen months may have passed, but our commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice remains as strong as it was on that fateful day, 17 July 2014, when hundreds of innocent people lost their lives in a conflict that was not theirs," he wrote.
"The on-going criminal investigation, which is being led by the Dutch with our full support, must provide definitive answers and allow us to pursue the strongest action possible against those responsible."
At the time of the incident, fierce fighting was taking place below in a war-torn area of Eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government troops.
"I promise you that Malaysia will remain steadfast until those behind this heinous act are made to pay for their crimes," Razak said.
Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai expressed similar sentiment Tuesday, saying that Malaysia would be committed in carrying out criminal investigations.
"Armed with the Dutch Safety Board report, Malaysia, with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) handling the criminal investigation, is ever more resolute to seek justice," he said in a statement.
"As part of the JIT, Malaysia remains single-minded in our pursuit of decisive action that will lead to prosecution of the trigger-happy criminals," he said.
Kuala Lumpur-bound Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 was shot down while flying from Amsterdam on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers on board, including 28 Malaysians and 15 crew members.
A second Dutch investigation -- scheduled to end early 2016 -- is expected to answer exactly who shot down flight MH17.
