MH17: Anwar should demand justice from Russia - PAS info chief

Summary

• PAS info chief tells PM to demand justice from Russia over MH17 while the latter is there on an official visit.

• Fadhli points out if Anwar can speak on Palestine, then he cannot ignore justice for the 43 Malaysians onboard the ill-fated flight.

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to demand justice from Russia over Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Fadhli said Anwar has a responsibility to Malaysians to voice out the matter during his ongoing visit to Russia, urging the premier to get the Russian government to deliver a public apology and commit to a compensation process.

"If the prime minister can speak out on other international issues such as Palestine and Gaza, then justice for the 43 Malaysians in the MH17 tragedy cannot be ignored either," the Pasir Mas MP said in a statement on Facebook today.

‘Dare to speak the truth’

Fadhli further said that Malaysians do not want to see the prime minister succumb to one-sided diplomacy.

“Dignified diplomacy is one that dares to speak the truth even in the face of great powers.

"Justice for MH17 is a national trust. Don't let it disappear for a photo with the Kremlin leader," he added.

Anwar is on an official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin until Friday.

Earlier today, the United Nations aviation council ruled that Russia was responsible for downing MH17 over Ukraine in July 2014.

A Reuters report quoted the Dutch and Australian governments as saying in separate statements that the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would consider what form of reparation was in order in the coming weeks.

In relation to this, Fadhli also called on the premier to demand that Russia support efforts to uphold justice through international bodies such as the ICAO without political interference.

Russia denies responsibility

MH17 departed from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, and was shot down over eastern Ukraine as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

All 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board were killed.

The Dutch-led Joint Investigative Team (JIT) claimed the plane was shot down using a BUK missile originating from the Russian military. Russia has denied the allegations.

In November 2022, Dutch judges convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absentia of murder for their role in downing the plane.

Moscow had referred to the ruling as "scandalous" and said it would not extradite its citizens.

On Sept 5, 2019, then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad defended Russia, saying there was insufficient evidence linking Russia to the attack on MH17.

He also said JIT’s findings did not seem “quite right”.

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