Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
News

MH17 Ukrainian separatists did not ask for any favour in return for allowing the remains of MH17 victims and the black boxes to be recovered.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said there was "no extra deal whatsoever", apart from three main agreements that were outlined by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at his press conference yesterday.

Muhyiddin said this when wrapping up the debate on the special motion to condemn the attack on MH17 at the emergency sitting of Parliament today.

After Najib had struck a deal with Ukraine separatist leader Alexander Borodai, there were questions as to what Malaysia had promised in return.

Muhyiddin also said no special treatment would be accorded to the separatists if it is proven that they shot down the plane.

"We do not offer forgiveness to those proven to be guilty. This will not stop us from taking action," he added.

The emergency sitting went on for nearly six hours today, and a majority of it was spent with MPs from both sides heaping praise on Najib.

In a house regularly divided along partisan lines, opposition MPs were generous in giving credit to Najib while BN MPs refrained largely from taking potshots at Pakatan.

Today was Najib's 61st birthday and he marked the occasion by staying in Parliament for almost the entire session, which was a rare occurrence. He regularly leaves the House right after tabling a motion and leaving it to the MPs to debate.

A motion condemning the downing of MH17 was passed unanimously in the House at the end of the debate.

Two exceptions

However, there were exceptions to an otherwise civil proceeding in the emergency sitting, mainly when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Wee Ka Siong spent almost his entire speech firing salvos at Pakatan for supposedly trying to blame the government and MAS over the MH17 tragedy.

He particularly riled up Rafizi Ramli (PKR-Pandan) for accusing the Pakatan MP of having tweeted a warning to the government that people's money should not be used to bribe separatists.

Rafizi said that the tweet was fake and he had already planned to lodge a police report over the matter.

However, Wee ( right ) refused to apologise nor retract his remark.

Both Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng praised Najib's quiet diplomacy, saying that the move to negotiate with separatists were necessary.

Najib returned the camaraderie by thanking Anwar and DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang for their statements of support and their condemnation of the MH17 downing.

While almost all MPs spent time condemning the downing of the plane and discussing the geopolitical tussle that Malaysia is inadvertently caught in, PAS' Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff however spoke on the importance of not serving alcohol and to observe the Muslim dress code.

"We don't want (anyone) to die in sin. (The government) should pay attention to the basics of Islamic teachings.

"Even if we die in the line of duty, we must die in a state of worship to Allah,” she added.

"We may have advanced technologies but this matter should not be viewed lightly. We cannot stop Allah's might."

Related stories

'No forgiveness for MH17 culprits, only justice'

Malaysia reveals Donetsk deal, no payment made

'Missile launcher crew in Ukrainian uniforms'

PAS Youth leader says statement twisted

Parliament condemns MH17 downing

Rosmah gets silent treatment from Najib

Family of MH17 victims provide DNA samples

Malaysians in New York mourn MH17 victims

US officials: MH17 likely shot down by mistake

M'sia can bring case to ICC despite not inking pact

Najib playing his cards right

Hats off to Najib for fixing MH17 issues swiftly

Ahmad Tarmizi’s twisted logic on Allah’s wrath

Since when did MAS become an Islamic institution?


Please join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news and views that matter.

ADS