PUTRAJAYA: The remains of the passengers and crew aboard Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 will be sent to Malaysia in stages, if it require longer time to identify the bodies, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
"The remains are currently in Netherlands. If the identification process takes a short while, we can bring all the bodies at once (to Malaysia). Otherwise, it will be in stages," he told reporters.
Liow said this after visiting the families and next-of-kin of passengers on board the ill-fated flight at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, here today.
The first bodies recovered from flight MH17 crash arrived in the Netherlands on Thursday for identification process.
DNA samples taken from relatives would be used to help identify the remains. However, it was reported that could be weeks or even months before all the bodies have been identified.
Liow also said the Malaysian government will partake in all investigations in regards to flight MH17, although the Dutch is leading the investigation.
"I have informed the Dutch government that Malaysia will be part of all the committees and sub committees they have set up for the MH17 investigation."
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah were also present. They spent about an hour with the families to provide support to the grieving families.
Also present were Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and her deputy Datin Chew Mei Fun.
It is learnt that there were 30 families (100 family members) in the room.
The Boeing 777-200, was carrying 298 passengers including 15 crew members from Malaysia. A majority of the passengers were Dutch.
It was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam when the aircraft was brought down in eastern Ukraine on July 17.