MALAYSIA remains resolute in its pursuit to seek justice for victims of the Malaysia Airline MH17 tragedy, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today.

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the downing of MH17, in which 298 passengers and crew on board perished after the jetliner was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014 while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Loke said the years since had undoubtedly been difficult for the victims’ families and loved ones.

“Not a single day passes without us remaining ever resolute to seeking justice for the victims of this unfortunate tragedy as we owe it to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew who were on board. In this regard, Malaysia is resolute in our pursuit to prosecute those responsible for this incident,” he said in a statement.

Loke said that Malaysia appreciated the presentation by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) team on May 24 on the latest report and the way forward on the criminal investigation.

As a member of the JIT, he said Malaysia once again expressed its gratitude for all the hard work of the JIT members that had enabled critical information regarding the tragic incident to be established.

“Malaysia has consistently called for and supported a fully transparent, independent and exhaustive investigation process.

“Hence, it reiterates JIT’s call for the public to come forward to assist in the investigation process and to provide additional supporting evidence against the people directly involved for justice to prevail,” he said.

In a statement published on its website on May 24, JIT said the team was convinced that a BUK TELAR missile was used to down MH17, and that it originated from the 53rd Anti Aircraft Missile Brigade (53rd Brigade), which is a unit of the Russian Army in Kursk in the Russian Federation.

Loke stressed that Malaysia and the other JIT members would not rest until “we bring closure to this tragedy”.

“Our commitment to the families and loved ones remains steadfast as we, along with the JIT countries, continue finding the answers that we all seek to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said. – Bernama, July 17, 2018.