KUANTAN: Investigations at the Malaysia Airlines flight (MAS) MH17 crash site in eastern Ukraine must be done fast as the cold season to envelope the region soon could make the process difficult.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the cold season with snow that would occur in the area in a few weeks’ time would hamper the investigations by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) investigation team which would depart for the crash site tonight.
“Tonight, 30 PDRM officers and other personnel will leave for Ukraine to continue with the investigations into the MH17 crash and to find the remains of some yet unfound victims for DNA testing before flying them to their countries of origin including Malaysia.
“The investigations need to be carried out before the cold season comes in a few weeks’ time because when the area is covered with snow, the investigations cannot go on anymore,” he told reporters after opening the Kuantan Umno division delegates’ meeting, here, today.
He said with such a weather condition, the investigations must be conducted immediately by PDRM to find anymore remains or evidence at the crash site.
“This is for the international investigators and Malaysia to bring the evidence to court to see whether the MAS plane had been shot down by a missile, as parts of the aircraft were scattered all over the crash site.”
Ahmad Zahid said the investigating team this time would include divers who would be making dives at the lake near the crash site, as previously they could not do so because of the skirmishes between the Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
He said the Ukrainian forces and separatists had agreed on a ceasefire after discussions in Belarus and this opportunity could be used by the Malaysian security force to hasten the investigations at the crash site.
“When there’s a ceasefire, then there’s security assurance for our investigation team under the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). We have been informed that both warring sides have removed their assets from the conflict area in fulfilling the ceasefire agreement,” he added.
On July 17, all 298 passengers and crew onboard MH17 were killed after the aircraft crashed in eastern Ukraine, believed to have been shot down by a missile over the troubled country.
– BERNAMA