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Health minister fires first salvo at Russia
Published:  Jul 20, 2014 5:47 PM
Updated: 3:07 PM

Health Minister S Subramaniam became the first minister to fire a salvo at Ukraine and Russia for being less than helpful to Malaysia in accessing the site where Flight MH17 was believed to have been shot down.

 

"I am angry that our Smart (Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) is not getting the necessary support and access to the crash site in recovery operations.

 

"Ukranian and Russian authorities owe it to us to provide support for our safe participation," he said in a statement on Facebook.

 

Subramaniam's (above) remarks is a break from the government's official stance which have been cautiously diplomatic when addressing both countries.

 

"Any attempts by pro-Russia rebels to deny entry to the crash site and to interfere with evidence should be condemned.

 

"As a nation we will show our resolve to go to the bottom of this and seek justice for the global community who were victims of this criminal act of aggression," he said.

'Russia to do its level best'

 

Yesterday, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai when asked to disclose the content of conversation between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Russia president Vladimir Putin merely said he believed Russia would do its "level best" to assist Malaysia.

 

Najib (right) had spoken to Putin on Friday, shortly before a national address on the Flight MH17 tragedy.

 

During the address, Najib said he had asked Putin to "give every cooperation in order to achieve the said objectives".

 

Malaysia's team arrived in Kiev yesterday to facilitate in the recovery and investigation efforts.

 

Liow is expected to arrive in Kiev later today while Foreign Minister Anifah Aman will depart for Ukraine tonight.

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