KUALA LUMPUR – The government will spend RM23 million next year to fund the trial of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) said Malaysia has agreed to bear 30% of the overall cost of the court proceeding that is taking place in the Netherlands.
“The court process is still ongoing. It was initiated by the Dutch authorities,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Budget 2021 committee stage in Dewan Rakyat today.
“The reason we are spending this amount (RM23 million) is because it involves Malaysia’s aircraft, and we want to make sure the culprits are brought to justice.”
When pressed, Wee said the full amount will be allocated for legal costs.
The minister was responding to earlier queries by Datuk Jalaluddin Aliah (BN-Jelebu) on why RM23 million is being spent for the trial six years after the tragedy, and what is the latest case development.
“How far is Malaysia’s involvement in the investigation and trial? Also, is it true that Russia is trying to interfere in the case by using their power to fail the probe? And how is our relationship with Russia after this MH17 case?” Jalaluddin had asked.
MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile over Ukraine on July 17, 2014 while on its way to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, Netherlands, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board.
Last year, a Dutch-led international probe made its first charge in the case, accusing Russians Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov, as well as Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko of murder for their involvement.
The trial started in March this year, before resuming in July following a break due to Covid-19. – The Vibes, December 7, 2020
