PETALING JAYA: So far the remains of 16 Malaysian passengers and crew who perished in the MH17 tragedy have been identified, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pix).
He said this followed the effort made by the government after having worked closely and tirelessly with the Dutch Government and other countries to identify the remains of the victims of the tragedy.
The government was working towards returning the remains to the families soon, he added in a statement today.
"As a mark of respect, and to honour their privacy, we are in the midst of discussing with the next-of-kin on receiving the remains when they arrive in Malaysia so that their wishes are accommodated," he said.
Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board, of whom 43 were Malaysians.
The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country.
Liow said family members have been informed that the government would accord full honours when the remains arrive back home.
"The government is seeking the cooperation of the media to work together with us in this time of great sorrow," he said, adding that this was for the benefit of the next-of-kin while respecting the wishes of the families and ensuring the dignity the victims must receive.
Liow hoped the media would work with the government to ensure the families were given the much needed privacy.
The release of information would be done in a timely manner with a view to respecting the families' privacy, he said.
"The nation indeed mourns the loss of our brothers and sisters. We will need to stand together to help in the healing process during this grieving period, particularly for those who have lost their loved ones," he said.
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