Putrajaya in cautious diplomacy over MH17, says New York Times
Malaysia is still reluctant to lay blame for the attack on its civilian airliner which killed 298 people, including 43 Malaysians, New York Times reported.
The daily said Putrajaya appeared to be in a cautious diplomacy, keeping its good ties with Russia while keeping away from American policies, a challenge to President Barack Obama who seeks to isolate Moscow over the shooting down of the plane.
Obama and other Western leaders have said that the ground-to-air missile that struck MH17 were made in Russia, accused Russia's President Vladimir Putin of leading a proxy war in Ukraine.
The Malaysian government has, however, yet to single out the Russians.
"We need verification on that, we want to get to the bottom of it," Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein was quoted by NYT as saying.
He said Malaysia did not have a position on the matter until all the facts had been verified on what caused the plane, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, to crash.
Malaysian political analyst Professor James Chin said Malaysia would probably wait for a formal investigation before making any public accusations, even if it thinks separatists using Russian-supplied weaponry were to blame.
This, he said, was because Malaysia still valued good relations with Russia, which it considers a superpower.
“The Malaysian thinking is that there’s no need to antagonize Russia unless it’s all there in black and white.
“They’ll wait for a final report from an international organization or independent investigation that blames Russia.
"Anything based from the United States, a third party, would not be enough on its own," Chin told NYT.
NYT, meanwhile, said Malaysian families have been waiting to bury the remains of their loved ones.
"It’s very important for Muslims to be buried as early as possible, so this is the hardest thing for families," said Syuhada Daud, whose cousin Ariza Ghazalee, her husband Tambi Jiee and their four children were among the dead.
An investigation team from Malaysia has been trying to gain access to the crash site where pieces of the Boeing 770-200 plane are scattered.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai left Kuala Lumpur for Kiev on Saturday night after strongly denouncing the rebels' treatment of human remains.
Syuhada said the families hoped the bodies would be carefully preserved and brought back to Malaysia.
"I understand it's quite hard because the area is a war zone.
"But I feel that there is more we can do, more the government can do," she said.
She said she could not bear watching television reports of debris and bodies which were poorly guarded, and news that there was looting in the area, said to be under the control of pro-Russian separatists.
Meanwhile, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, who heads the opposition-linked Youth Solidarity Malaysia (SAMM), said they planned to protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
"This is not an ordinary tragedy, this is a crime.
"Russia has a special responsibility, because everyone and the world knows the rebel group in the area is supported by Russia" NYT quoted him as saying.
The MH17 tragedy is the second to affect Malaysia Airlines in four months, following the disappearance of MH370 on March 8. – July 21, 2014.
