Malaysia will leave "no stones unturned" in its quest for justice in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, the nation's defence minister said on Friday.

Hishammuddin Hussein was addressing journalists at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang after returning from Ukraine.

Flight MH17 went down on July 17 over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

Hishammudin Hussein, who also visited Russia and the Netherlands during the trip, said that Russia had said they will continue working with Malaysian authorities and had given a commitment that "they too want to find the truth".

He stressed Malaysia's own commitment to bringing back the remains of passengers of the plane that were still in the region

Meanwhile on Friday, the chief Dutch prosecutor overseeing the criminal investigation into the downing of the jet said the possibility that Flight 17 was shot down from the ground is the "most likely" scenario.

A separate Dutch air crash investigation concluded this week that the plane was hit from the outside by numerous high-energy objects, but stopped short of calling it a missile strike.

AP TELEVISION

1. Wide of Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein arriving at news conference, zoom in

2. Mid of photographers

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"I must say that the Russians have indicated to me that they are working closely with us and they will continue to do that. They've given us, given me a commitment that they too want to find the truth."

5. Mid of reporters writing

6. Mid of cameramen

7. Pan from media to Hussein

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"No stones unturned when it comes to finding justice for MH17, to bring back the remains of the remaining passengers that are still there, not only from Malaysia but from the other nations also."

9. Mid of reporters writing

10. Close of cameraman

11. Mid of reporter

12. Hishammuddin Hussein exiting

Russia's Ambassador to Malaysia said on Tuesday that experts had confirmed that the black boxes of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 that crashed in eastern Ukraine "were not tampered with."

Lyudmila Vorobyeva said that Russia was not playing "the blame game," as claimed by some Western countries.

On Monday pro-Moscow separatists released a train packed with bodies of the plane crash victims and handed over the black boxes from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane, four days after it got shot down.

With body parts decaying in sweltering heat and signs that evidence at the crash site was mishandled, anger in Western capitals has mounted at the rebels and their allies in Moscow.

The bodies of the 298 victims, most from the Netherlands, have become a part of the conflict in Ukraine because they could hold evidence of what brought the plane down on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

AP TELEVISION

1. Car driving into Russian Embassy in Malaysia

2. Sign of Russian Embassy

3. Russian Ambassador to Malaysia sitting at press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lyudmila Vorobyeva, Russian Ambassador to Malaysia:

"The black boxes have been handed over to Malaysian experts and Malaysian experts have certified that they were not tampered with. That are the words by Malaysian experts."

5. Cutaway of Vorobyeva speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lyudmila Vorobyeva, Russian Ambassador to Malaysia:

"The rebels do not possess any defence systems that are capable of shooting a plane at the altitude of ten kilometres.They do not have this kind of systems. Russia has never supplied this kind of system."

7. Cutaway of media

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lyudmila Vorobyeva, Russian Ambassador to Malaysia:

"In Russia, we are not playing these games that are our Western counterparts is engaging very much into - blaming someone and accusing some parties without any evidence. We are not doing that. We are calling for thorough investigation that could produce evidence of who is responsible for this tragedy."

9. Media filming

10. Vorobyeva leaving

11. Various of woman holding banner reading (English): "Justice for MH 17" in front of Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur

13. Security in front of embassy

The Malaysian Australian Business council and the Australian High Commission organised a reception on Sunday for visiting Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Abbot said Australian businesses must venture out in order to gain opportunities abroad, including in Malaysia.

He also said the way Australia and Malaysia "have worked so well together" in addressing the twin tragedies of flights MH370 and MH17 has strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

The ongoing search efforts for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 were high on the agenda during Abbott's visit.

Malaysia aims to send a search team to the crash site in Ukraine of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 before winter sets in to gather physical evidence to prove that it was shot down, Prime Minister Najib Razak has said.

The plane plunged from the sky on July 17, killing all on board, while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia separatists.

Searches of the crash site were halted on August 6 due to concerns that fighting in the immediate area was a threat.

AP TELEVISION

1. Tracking Prime Minister Abbott arriving at reception

2. Wide reception guest

2. Wide Prime Minister Abbott going on stage

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister

"We want our business to be going out to the world, because wherever there is a dollar to be made, wherever there is an innovation to be put into place, I want Australia to be there."

4. Mid of podium

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Abbott, Australian Prime Minister

"The twin tragedies, or the tragedy of MH370 and the atrocity of MH17, but the way our two countries have worked so well together in addressing these issues reflects the underlying strengths of our relationship, which has been getting better and better over the last five or six decades "

6. Mid of Abbott talking to participants

7. Abbott talking to participant

8. Wide of the event hall

9. Mid of Abbott posing for photo opportunity with participants

Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anifah Aman, left for Ukraine early on Monday, to discuss the issues surrounding the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 with senior Ukrainian officials.

Aman, who was leading a government delegation left at 00:30 a.m. local time (1630 GMT on Sunday).

He is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss access to the crash site and the recovery of the bodies of the victims.

International monitors say armed rebels have limited their access to the crash site and Ukrainian officials said armed rebels took 192 bodies away from their workers by force Sunday.

Aman will head to Istanbul and transit to Kiev.

He refused to answer questions from the media but said he would update reporters after his discussions.

Flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, leaving 298 dead.

The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anifah Aman, (centre in pink shirt) walking in the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport

2. Close of Aman

3. Aman waving to media

4. Close of Aman UPSOUND (English) Anifah Aman, Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs: (asked about the aim of his visit)

"I will tell you after my discussions, after my meetings."

5. Aman entering the VIP lounge at the Airport

The Malaysian Parliament held a moment of silence on Wednesday for the people killed aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

All 298 people on board the plane were killed when it was shot down on Thursday in eastern Ukraine.

At the beginning of the session, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak addressed lawmakers and condemned "the inhumane, uncivilised, violent and irresponsible action" that led to the tragedy.

The session was also attended by the Russian Ambassador to Malaysia, Lyudmila Vorobyev.

The investigation over who is responsible for the tragedy is underway.

Western governments have accused pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with a surface-to-air missile while it was flying at 33-thousand feet (10-thousand metres).

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (pink shirt) going through security as he enters Malaysian Parliament building

2. Malaysian Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein (pink tie) entering building and shaking hands with security officer

3. Pan from media to Hussein

4. Russian Ambassador to Malaysia, Lyudmila Vorobyev. sitting inside parliament

5. Razak entering room shaking hands with member of parliament

6. Close of Razak

7. Various of lawmakers observing moment of silence

8. SOUNDBITE (Malaysian) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"These honourable members of the parliament are here to firmly condemn in the strongest terms the inhumane, uncivilised, violent and irresponsible action of the parties believed to have shot down flight MH17, resulting in the loss of 298 lives comprising of 283 passengers and 15 crew who were innocent."

9. Various of lawmakers

10. Wide pan of parliament

The Malaysian Prime Minister said on Thursday that it would be impossible to bring home the bodies of the Malaysian victims of the crashed Malaysia Airlines plane before the end of the month of Ramadan.

Najib Razak made his comments during a visit to the Dutch Ambassador's residence in Kuala Lumpur.

After signing a book of condolence at the residence, Razak stated that the body identification process and the forensic works could take weeks, or even months.

The first flight with body remains arrived on Dutch soil on Wednesday.

Razak also said he was angry that investigators still did not have full access to the crash site.

While the Dutch Ambassador Harry Molenaar said that after the bodies were returned home, they would like to see justice.

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak walking through the Dutch ambassador's house , with the ambassador and others

2. Razak signing condolence book

3. Harry Molenaar, Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia looking on

4. Various of Razak signing condolence book

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia:

"It is expected that this whole process will take weeks, it might even be months, we are not sure yet. But the people on the ground have informed me that it cannot be done before Raya (celebration day after the end of Holy Ramadan month). So, it is with much regret that I have to inform the families concerned. But this is not only a legal and technical requirement, but we want to give the dignity to the families concerned."

6. Message written by Razak in condolence book

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia:

"Yes, I am angry and I want full access because it is unfortunately it is a war zone and you know a war zone, there are many constraints and not only having access but the safety of those people (investigators) that must be, both sides must respect the safety of the people. So, it is not as straight forward as it sounds, we are doing our level best and I will be making some effort to see that this will be respected by both sides."

8. Pull focus candle

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Harry Molenaar, Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia:

"We would like to see justice. At the first step, priority was to get the bodies back. The second step is to get justice to what has happened to these people."

10. Card outside the Dutch ambassador's house reading (English) "Tributes to the soul of MH17"

11. Card outside the Dutch ambassador's house reading (English) "Our Heartfelt Condolences #MH17"

12. Flowers and cards outside the Dutch ambassador's house

Nearly four years after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, family members of the victims onboard the passenger jet continue to seek justice.

On Friday, the Netherlands and Australia announced they were holding Moscow legally responsible for its role in the missile attack.

The announcement came a day after international prosecutors said they had unequivocal evidence of Russian involvement in the downing of a Malaysian passenger jet.

Don Shahidan Kassim, a relative of Dora Shahila Kassim, the chief stewardess onboard MH17, said he hopes the Malaysian and Australian governments will take action against Russia.

On Thursday, a Dutch-led international team of investigators said they had strong evidence that the Buk missile system that brought down the Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight came from a Russia-based military unit, the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk.

It was the most explicit link yet published by the investigators between Moscow and the downing of the flight known as MH17.

Kuala Lumpur - 26 May 2018

1. Don Shahidan Kassim, relative of Dora Shahila Kassim, Chief stewardess on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, looking at photo book

2. Close of Don Shahidan Kassim's hands flicking through photo book

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Don Shahidan Kassim, relative of Dora Shahila Kassim, Chief stewardess on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17:

"All of the next of kin expect justice because being that a passenger plane, how come an army such as the Russians would shoot it down? Whatever reason they have, they should not shoot the plane down. So we want justice, so we want our government and others, I think the Australian government, people want justice, so we are still pursuing it and hope the Malaysian government will still pursue it as a next of kin we are really hoping for justice."

4. Photo of Dora (screen bottom left), tilt up to photos of other crew members of MH17

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Don Shahidan Kassim, relative of Dora Shahila Kassim, Chief stewardess on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17:

"It has been four years already, this coming 17 July, four years already. And we are not informed, any (no) government has been able to take action against the Russian government, so we are still hoping but if the Australian government is able to take action against the Russian, we are happy with it because we want justice. I think also that the Australian people want justice but it's been four years and we do not know whether this year or next year or the next coming five years our government or the other governments will be able to prosecute Russia about this issue."

6. Don Shahidan Kassim looking at photo book

7. Close of photo of Dora

The Malaysian government gave an update on Thursday on the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight 370 and efforts to find those responsible for the shooting down of flight MH17 over Ukraine in July.

Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, said Malaysia would continue to "work closely with Australia and the Netherlands" in order to re-enter the crash site for flight MH17 before the onset of winter.

The plane went down on July 17 over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

Regarding flight 370, Hussein announced he is to hold further talks with China regarding the ongoing search for the aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean.

The flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared in March with 239 people on board.

The Defence Minister also commented on reports of alleged Islamic State (IS) activity in Malaysia.

Hussein was asked whether he had heard of any reports linking the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and the militant group Abu Sayyaf with Islamic State militants.

Both the BIFF and Abu Sayyaf are based in the southern Philippines near the coast of Sabah in eastern Malaysia.

Hussein told reporters he was not aware of these allegations, but any such reports would be studied very carefully.

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Defence Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, with reporters at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"We will continue to work closely with Australia and the Netherlands through the Combined Joint International Task Force (CIJTF) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other relevant authorities to re-enter the crash site before the onset of winter."

3. Photographer

4. Reporter taking notes

5. Media at news conference

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"I will hold further discussions with China next week with regards to the deployment of assets for the MH370 search operation involving two Chinese ships that was involved in the first phase of the search which is the Zhukezhen and the Hai Xhun."

7. Cameraman

8. Wide of news conference

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"I'm not aware of that report, but of course a report that involves ISIS (Islamic State group) will be studied by us very carefully, especially in the context of Sabah (Malaysian state on island of Borneo) and the context of BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and Abu Sayyaf (militant group) recognising and supporting ISIS."

10. Various of reporters taking notes

11. Hishammudin leaving presser

A Malaysian official said on Thursday his country was still focused on the retrieval of any remains from the crash site of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein made his comment following a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur where a number of ministers, including Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai discussed the repatriation of the Malaysian dead from the tragedy.

At the news conference afterwards, Tiong Lai also said a preliminary report on the incident should be ready by next week.

Flight 17 was shot down in Eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 on board.

44 were Malaysian citizens.

AP TELEVISION

1. Press gathered for news conference

2. Officials standing at podium for news conference

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Minister of Defence:

"Our focus is to bring back if they are anymore remains in an area that is very large. We are monitoring the situation very closely. The Ukrainian forces are entering Donetsk as we speak. We will have to work very closely with the intelligence on all sides."

4. Photographers taking photos of officials

5. Various Hishammuddin and Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai at meeting

6 Cameraman

7. Officials at podium

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Transport Minister:

"So all preliminary data should be able to be ready by next week. I will hope that the preliminary report will be able to reveal the preliminary study hopefully by next week."

9. Journalists on phones

10. End of news conference

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok on Thursday met Malaysian families who lost loved ones when Malaysian Airlines MH17 was shot down over Ukraine four years ago.

Blok's low-key meeting in Kuala Lumpur was to brief the Malaysians on action being taken by the Netherlands and other countries over the case.

The Netherlands has said it holds Russia responsible for providing the missile that brought down the jet, causing the deaths of all 298 people aboard.

Two thirds of the victims were from the Netherlands.

International investigators last year said they had strong evidence the Buk missile system that shot down the Boeing 777 plane came from a Russia-based military unit.

Russia has denied involvement.

Kuala Lumpur – 28 March 2019

1. Various of Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok talking to Malaysian MH17 next of kin

2. Photographer

3. Various of Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok talking to Malaysian MH17 next of kin

4. Malaysian deputy foreign minister Marsuki Yahya (center) talking to MH17 next of kin

5. Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok giving speech to Malaysian MH17 next of kin

6. Various of Malaysian MH17 next of kin

7. Sign (English) reading "Residence of the ambassador of the Netherlands"

8. Exterior of embassy residence with van driving through gate

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Kuala Lumpur - 3 March 2016

1. Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Minister of Transport, entering news conference

2. Cutaway

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Minister of Transport:

"We are working together with Australia to recover the debris (of a plane that washed up in Mozambique) because (during) the last two days we received a message - two days ago. Immediately we dispatched a team from Australia, where the team had an embassy there, they have their personnel there. Immediately we can start discussing on the details of recovering the debris. So we would like to get hold of the debris as soon as possible - that's why we are working with Australia in a fast manner."

4. Cutaway

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Minister of Transport:

"We (will) also send a team consist(ing) of DCA (Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia), Malaysia Airlines and, also, the investigation team of MH17 (Malaysia Airlines plane shot down on 17 July 2014). They are also working together to inspect and check the debris. We will check when is the - I haven't got the detail - when the debris (will) arrive in Australia. But, definitely, the debris will be under Malaysian custody."

6. Liow at news conference

STORYLINE:

Malaysian Minister of Transport Liow Tiong Lai said on Thursday that Malaysia will work together with Australia to determine whether debris that washed up in Mozambique is that of the missing plane MH370.

The debris was tentatively identified as a part from the same type of aircraft as the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on Wednesday.

Liow said the partnership with Australia will allow Malaysia to immediately discuss the details regarding the debris' recovery.

He added that the debris will definitely "be under Malaysia custody."

MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Radar data show the plane turned sharply around as it approached Vietnamese airspace, and then flew back across the Malay Peninsula until contact was lost off the coast of Thailand.

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The Premier of the State Council of China, Li Keqiang, was welcomed by Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak at his headquarters in Putrajaya on Monday with a guard of honour.

Li was on his first official visit to Malaysia as premier following his attendance of the two day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumur, which wrapped up on Sunday.

The pair held a bilateral meeting, as well a joint news conference at which Li Keqiang stressed government support for Chinese companies investing in Malaysia.

He also welcomed Malaysia companies investing in China, as well as pledging 20 million Australian dollars (approx 14-million US dollars) to the search for missing Malaysian airliner MH370.

The Premier of the State Council of China, Li Keqiang, was welcomed by Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak at his headquarters in Putrajaya on Monday with a guard of honour.

Li was on his first official visit to Malaysia as premier following his attendance of the two day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumur, which wrapped up on Sunday.

The pair held a bilateral meeting, as well a joint news conference at which Li Keqiang stressed government support for Chinese companies investing in Malaysia.

He also welcomed Malaysia companies investing in China, as well as pledging 20 million Australian dollars (approx 14-million US dollars) to the search for missing Malaysian airliner MH370.

AP TELEVISION

Putrajaya - 23 November 2015

1. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak showing Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to front of podium

2. Wide of guard of honour

3. Cutaway of media

4. Li Keqiang inspecting guard of honour

5. Li Keqiang greeting officials

6. Li Keqiang and Najib Razak walking on red carpet

7. Li Keqiang and officials at round table meeting

8. Photographer

9. Wide of officials sitting down for bilateral talks

10. Mid of Li Keqiang

11. Li Keqiang and Najib Razak standing behind officials as the sign memorandums of understanding

12. Officials shaking hands and exchanging documents

13. Li Keqiang and Najib Razak stepping up for news conference

14. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Li Keqiang, Premier of State Council of China:

"The Chinese government will support Chinese companies to increase investment in the Kuantan industrial park and the Malaca Maritime industrial park. At the same time we welcome Malaysian companies to invest in China."

15. Camera viewfinder

16. Wide of news conference

17. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Li Keqiang, Premier of State Council of China:

"China wants to enhance connectivity with Malaysia, and China is interested in participating in the construction of the double track railway project in Malaysia as well as the double rail link in Singapore. The Chinese government will also contribute 20 million Australian dollars and one search vessel for the search for the missing MH370."

18. Li Keqiang and Najib Razak leaving

The families of those onboard missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have launched efforts to raise at least 50 (m) million US dollars to fund a private search as they mark the third anniversary of the plane's disappearance.

The nearly three-year search in the southern Indian Ocean was suspended on 17 January after investigators failed to trace the plane.

MH370 disappeared on 8 March 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said on Saturday that the victims of the incident will always be remembered.

Jacquita Gomes, whose husband was a flight attendant, said that the plane search must go on.

A final report on the plane's disappearance will be released this year.

Kuala Lumpur - 4 March 2017

1. Wide of balloons and banner reading (English) "MH370 is not history, it’s the future"

2. Man looking at MH370 inspired artwork

3. Crowd at art exhibit

4. Stage

5. Relatives of MH370 passengers

6. Wide of crowd

7. Relatives of Chinese passengers

8. Zoom-in on Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai at lectern

9. Balloon with inscription reading (English) “My love will find you wherever you are.”

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Transport Minister

"Three years may have passed, but the memories of your loved ones will always be with all of us, and they'll be remembered dearly, not only by the families, but the Malaysian people and the citizens of this globe."

11. Danica Weeks, Australian who lost her husband Paul on MH370, talking to a reporter

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Danica Weeks, lost her husband on MH370

"So the moment is about us all coming together today and remembering that, you know, this isn’t over, and MH370 cannot remain a mystery."

13. Wide of Jacquita Gomes, Malaysian who lost her husband Patrick, who was inflight supervisor on MH370

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Jacquita Gomes, lost her husband on MH370:

“Yes, the search should go on. The reason for the suspension is that they say there’s no more credible evidence that has come in, in order for them to continue the search. So I guess they should get in more experts then, to sit down and re-evaluate what they have, and go through everything again to see what went wrong.”

15. Various of man writing condolence message on a large board

16. Balloon with inscription reading (English) “MH370 search on”

17. Close of girl with MH370 painted on her face

Malaysia's transport minister said on Sunday that the government is open to new proposals from U.S. technology firm Ocean Infinity or any other companies to resume the hunt for Flight 370, as families of passengers marked the fifth anniversary of the jet's mysterious disappearance.

The plane vanished with 239 people on board on March 8 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Confirmed debris that washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean helped to narrow Ocean Infinity's search area, but it failed to uncover any evidence.

Ocean Infinity mounted a  'no cure, no fee' search for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean in January 2018 that ended in May without any clue as to where it could have crashed.

But the company's CEO, Oliver Plunkett, said in a video shown at the public remembrance event at a mall near Kuala Lumpur that the company hopes to resume the hunt with better technology obtained in the past year.

The Ocean Infinity mission came a year after an official search by Malaysia, Australia and China ended in futility.

Plunkett said his company has better technology now after successfully locating an Argentinian submarine in November, a year after it went missing.

He said the firm is still reviewing all possible data on Flight 370 and thinking about how it can revive its failed mission.

"We haven't given up hope. We hope we can continue the search in due course," Plunkett said.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said it's been frustrating that the two searches failed to produce any clues and that he "welcomes credible leads and also concrete proposals to resume the search."

He brushed off suggestions of offering rewards to find the plane, but said the government is willing to discuss proposals from any companies prepared to resume the search.

"There must be a proposal from a specific company ... we cannot just be out there without credible leads. That's the most practical thing to do," Loke said.

A Malaysian-led independent investigation report released last July showed lapses in the government's response and raised the possibility of "intervention by a third party."

Investigators, however, said the cause of the disappearance cannot be determined until the wreckage and the plane's black boxes are found.

The report reiterated Malaysia's assertion that the plane was deliberately diverted and flown for over seven hours after severing communications.

But it said there was no evidence of abnormal behavior or stress in the two pilots that could have lead them to hijack the plane.

All the other passengers were also cleared by police and had no pilot training.

Voice 370, a support group for next-of-kin, expressed hope that the new government that won a general election in May last year will do more to encourage search missions and seek new clues.

The group's spokeswoman, Grace Nathan, urged the government to set aside up to 70 million US dollars — the amount it agreed to pay Ocean Infinity had it found the plane — to encourage exploration companies to take on "no cure, no fee" missions so Flight 370's passengers will not have died in vain.

Kuala Lumpur - 3 March 2019

1. Wing debris on display

2. Damage on wing

3. Wide wing

4. People looking at wing

5. Label on debris reading (English) 'right outboard flap'

6. Debris side view

7. Next of kin candlelight ceremony

8. Next of kin crying at candlelight ceremony

9. Children at candlelight ceremony

10. Attendee filming ceremony on cell phone

11. Candles with names of missing passengers

12. Next of kin lighting candles

13. Children lighting candles

14. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke at event

15. Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke drinking water

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Anthony Loke, Malaysian Transport Minister:

"If there are any credible leads or any specific proposals, especially from Ocean Infinity, we are more than willing to look at it, and we are prepared to discuss with them the new proposal. Of course, the approach of using  'No fee No cure' if there's no fee.. no result, we are prepared to look at it."

17. T-shirt 'remembering 239 lives'

18. Next of kin K.S Narendran talking to reporter

19. SOUNDBITE (English) K.S Narendran, MH370 next of kin:

"It (the government) must demonstrate its commitment by actively looking for credible evidence that it wants from the rest of the world, and so it must make an effort, and it must be apparent that it's making an effort to find credible evidence."

20. Jaquita Gomes speaking to friends

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaquita Gomes, MH370 next of kin:

"Our expectation is for the government to say 'yes, let's start searching again' - that's what we want to happen, because without doing that, you won't find the plane. You can't be sitting down and waiting for something to fall on your lap."

22. Signage 'remembering 239 lives MH370 5 years gone'

23. MH370 tribute board 'MH370 is not the history. It's the future'

24. MH370 tribute board 'come home and see you family'

25. MH370 tribute board

Malaysians expressed their anger and frustration on Sunday over a perceived lack of cooperation by Russia in the investigation on the Malaysian Airlines flight 17's crash in a rebel-controlled area in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government and separatist rebels accuse each other of firing a surface-to-air missile at the Boeing 777 with almost 300 people aboard.

Both deny shooting down the plane.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is conducting investigations into the cause of the incident, said separatists denied full access to the plane crash site.

Amid wide calls for an international investigation, doubts arose about whether the evidence was being compromised before inspectors ever reach the scene.

"Of course I am angry. I think there must be something, there must be some action that they have to do to make the government and also for the investigators to access and do it, " said a 27-year-old Nur Zehan Abu Bakar, who works in the education sector.

Others Malaysians tried to remain calm and were waiting for the official investigation to be completed. "I encourage everyone to stay calm to look at what actually happened," said 36-year-old dancer JS Wong.

James Chin, professor at the Monash University in Malaysia, said that "without the co-operation of Russia, it is almost impossible for the Malaysian team or for any international investigation to take place."

He said he believes "the Malaysia government takes the position that we cannot antagonise the Russians now because the Russian holds the key to the investigations."

Malaysia is Russia's main trading partner in Southeast Asia.

The two countries have had healthy relations in the past with trade between both valued at 1,903 (b) billion US dollars in 2007, according to the Russian embassy website.

Russia is one of Malaysia's main military aircraft seller, with the Malaysian air force having 18 Sukhoi fighter jets in its fleet.

AP TELEVISION

20 July 2014

1. Various of Petronas Towers

2. Traffic in the city centre

3. Malaysian national flag with pedestrians walking in background

4. People walking in the city centre

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Nur Zehan Abu Bakar, Malaysian citizen:

"Of course I am angry. I think there must be something, there must be some action that they have to do to make the government and also for the investigators to access and do it."

6. People walking on street

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Foo, Malaysian citizen:

"I think they (Russia) are a big country. We are a very small country. So how much can we (do), unless all nations in the world join force and stop buying their things, whatever goods. If by only Malaysian, I don't think we can have much effect on it."

8. Various of traffic

9. SOUNDBITE (English) JS Wong, Malaysian citizen:

"For now I will try to calm down myself rather than hear too much noises, but I don't have the evidence form different perspectives. There is no point for me to get emotional at the moment. I encourage everyone to stay calm to look at what actually happened. That only will define who has to take responsibility."

10. James Chin, political scientist at Monash University in Malaysia

11. SOUNDBITE (English) James Chin, political scientist at Monash University in Malaysia:

"The Malaysian government really cannot do much. The Malaysia government takes the position that we cannot antagonise the Russians now because the Russian holds the key to the investigations. For example, we know that the Russians are very close the the rebels who are fighting and controlling the area where the aircraft came down. So, without the co-operation of Russia, it is almost impossible for the Malaysian team or for any international investigation to take place."

19 July 2014

12. Various of Malaysia Airlines planes in the airport

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told a news conference on Tuesday that the bodies of 28 victims of the MH17 disaster have been identified as Malaysians by authorities in Amsterdam.

The announcement was made following a journalists briefing that was also attended by the Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

Flight 17 was downed on 17 July over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people aboard, mostly Dutch, Malaysian and Australian citizens.

Malaysia announced a few days ago that the first consignment of bodies identified as being from the country will arrive back in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The government has declared that day as a national day of mourning.

Hishammuddin told journalists on Tuesday that Malaysia will not be competing with the Netherlands in terms of how the bodies are received.

The Dutch observed a minute's silence and solemn ceremonies were held when the bodies of the victims arrived in their country last month.

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein arriving at news conference with other officials

2. SOUNDBITE: (Malay) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"As of today 28 bodies have been identified as Malaysians by the authorities in Amsterdam. Of the 28 bodies, 15 identified as passengers & 13 others as crew."

3. Hishammuddin and Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai (red tie) at meeting

4. Hishammuddin and Lai at meeting

5. Various of meeting

6. Pan of news conference

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"We are not competing with Amsterdam or Holland. Of course there are different situations. In that situation they did not have to deal with the families because we do not know the bodies that were in the coffins there."

8. Various of journalists

Malaysia's defence minister on Saturday said leaders around the world backed his country's call for a "thorough and complete transparent" investigation into the cause of the crash of Flight 17 in Ukraine.

Talking to reporters, Hishammuddin Hussein said he had spoken to his counterpart from the US, Britain's foreign secretary and Chinese leaders, as all international bodies would need to cooperate in order to "get to the bottom" of what happened.

Until that time, the minister said Malaysia could not say for certain whether the plane had been brought down by a missile fired by pro-Russian separatists.

US President Barack Obama on Friday said the US believed the Malaysia Airlines plane was felled by a surface-to-air missile launched from an area near the Ukraine-Russia border that is controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists.

Even as he cautioned that the exact circumstances were still being determined, Obama turned his sights on Moscow, saying the insurgents would not be capable of carrying out such an attack without its support.

All 298 people aboard the Malaysian plane were killed in Thursday's incident.

The passengers, including scores of children, came from a dozen countries, spreading the impact of the Ukraine crisis around the globe.

AP TELEVISION

++PLEASE NOTE EDIT CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY++

1. Photographers taking photos of Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (centre, wearing glasses and dark top and trousers), some shout out

2. Hishammuddin Hussein surrounded by media, as soon on computer tablet held up by journalist

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"We want to get to the bottom of it. It is important for to have a thorough and complete transparent investigation of what actually happened. And to do that we need the cooperation of all the international bodies. And I've been in touch with (US Defence) Secretary Hagel last night. I've spoken to (Foreign Secretary) Philip Hammond from the United Kingdom. The Chinese leaders have been on the line with me."

4. Minister surrounded by media

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysian Defence Minister:

"And we've been told this morning by our prime minister that he has been in touch with (Russian) President Putin, the Ukrainian leadership. All that has been in place. But we do not have a position until all the facts have been verified, whether the plane was really brought down, how it was brought down, who brought it down."

6. Media surrounding Hishammuddin Hussein minister as he walks away

The Malaysian jetliner missing for more than a week had its communications deliberately disabled and its last signal came about seven and a half hour after takeoff, meaning it could have ended up as far as Kazakhstan or deep in the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysia's leader said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Najib Razak's statement confirmed days of mounting speculation that the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was not accidental, and underlined the massive task for searchers who have been scouring vast areas of ocean.

"Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear - we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate from its original path," Najib said.

"In view of this latest development, the Malaysian authorities have refocused their investigation into the crew and passengers on board," Najib added, stressing they were still investigating all possibilities as to why the plane deviated so drastically from its original flight path.

The plane was carrying 239 people when it departed for an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing at 00:40 local time, on March 8 (16:40 GMT on March 7).

The plane's communications with civilian air controllers were severed at about 01:20 local time (17:30 GMT), and the jet went missing in one of the most puzzling mysteries in modern aviation history.

Najib said investigators now had a high degree of certainly that one of the plane's communications systems - the Aircraft and Communications Addressing and Reporting System - was disabled before the aircraft reached the east coast of Malaysia.

Shortly afterwards, someone on board then switched off the aircraft's transponder, which communicates with civilian air traffic controllers.

The prime minister then confirmed that Malaysian air force defence radar picked up traces of the plane turning back westwards, crossing over Peninsular Malaysia into the northern stretches of the Strait of Malacca.

Authorities had previously said this radar data could not be verified.

He then said the last confirmed signal between the plane and a satellite came at 08:11 local time, 7 hours and 31 minutes after takeoff.

Airline officials have said the plane had enough fuel to fly for up to about eight hours.

Najib said authorities had determined that the plane's last communication with a satellite was in one of two possible "corridors" - a northern one from northern Thailand through to the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and a southern one from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean.

He said that searching in the South China Sea, where the plane first lost contact with air traffic controllers, would be ended.

The current search involves 14 countries, 43 ships and 58 aircraft.

AP TELEVISION

1. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak entering news briefing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"Based on new satellite communication, we can say with a high degree of certainty that the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, or ACARS, was disabled just before the aircraft reached the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Shortly afterwards, near the border, between Malaysia and Vietnamese air traffic control the aircraft's transponder was switched off.

3. Wide of news conference ++MUTE++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"From this point onwards the Royal Malaysian Air Force's primary radar data showed that an aircraft, which was believed, but not confirmed, to be MH370 did indeed turn back. It then flew in a westerly direction back over Peninsular Malaysia before turning north west. Up until the point at which it left military primary radar coverage, these movements are consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane."

5. Photographers ++MUTE++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear - we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate from its original path."

7. Photographers ++MUTE++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"Based on this new data the aviation authorities of Malaysia and their international counterparts have determined that the plane's last communication with a satellite was in one of two possible corridors. A northern corridor stretching approximately from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand. Or a southern corridor stretching approximately from Indonesia to (the) southern Indian Ocean. The investigation team is working to further refine the information."

9. Wide of news conference ++MUTE++

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Najib Razak, Malaysian Prime Minister:

"In view of this latest development the Malaysian authorities have refocused their investigation into the crew and passengers on board."

11. Wide of news conference ++MUTE++

12. Prime minister leaving news conference.

SHOTLIST

29 April 2013

1. Wide of Petronas Twin Towers

22 April 2013

2. Pan right from street to shop

3. Close up sign written (Malay): TUKAR, Transformasi Kedai Runcit (TUKAR, Grocery Store Transformation)

4. Wide of Syahadad Husin looking at computer screen inside his shop

5. Close up of Husin

6. Goods on shelves in Husin's shop

7. Wide of Husin doing stock check

8. SOUNDBITE: (Malay) Syahadad Husin, shopkeeper:

"All of us must support the government because of what the government has genuinely done to help us."

9. Various of Ng Sek San planting colourful flags on grassy roundabout

10. Close up of colourful flags

11. SOUDNBITE (English) Ng Sek San, Landscape Architect:

"It's a very literal interpretation of what spring is. In a temperate climate you've got four seasons. When you change from dark, cold winter days into spring, everything becomes brighter and everybody gets more excited."

24 April 2013

12. Pan from street to Barisan Nasional (National Front) campaign post

13. Medium of banner showing picture of Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak, reading (Malay): "The right leader for One Malaysia. Vote for Barisan Nasional"

22 April 2013

14. Various of Ng Sek San planting flags

15.SOUDNBITE: (English) Ng Sek San, Landscape Architect:

"Change has already taken place, whether we like it or not. A regime change, I guess, is important because the present regime has probably ruled for so long, and it's no secret that people are unhappy with a lot of things."

16. Various of student Joy Gracia Liso looking at her laptop

17. Reverse shot of Liso looking at facebook page

18.SOUNDBITE: (English) Joy Gracia Liso, student:

"Because everyone that I know goes back, at least they go back to Penang or Johor, even my roommate is going back, and to see them being able to go back, it kind of like envy me (made me envious), kind of made me like 'what am I doing here? Why can't I go back?' Especially that is my land, and this land is being, you know, manipulated in so many ways, why can't I be in that part. Now that I get the funds to go back, I just can't wait (to vote)."

19. Wide of Liso looking at paintings

STORYLINE

Malaysians face a stark choice on Sunday in their most hotly contested general elections ever: Stick with what they know, a long-ruling coalition accused of corruption, or take a chance on an untested opposition.

Some of the Southeast Asian nation's 13.3 (m) million eligible voters believe the National Front, which has dominated politics since independence from Britain in 1957, must be ousted to cleanse the government. They are rallying behind opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Supporters of incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak respond that change is too risky and unnecessary.

A five-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur's ceaselessly photographed Petronas Twin Towers, where a street-level mall lures shoppers and tourists to sparkling boutiques run by brands like Chanel and Gucci, Syahadad Husin smiles and nods at visitors to a grocery shop owned by his family in one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods.

The Malaysian entrepreneur's store is tiny, his customers are far from well-heeled and his shelves are stocked mainly with canned sardines and 30-cent packets of instant noodles.

He represents the kind of voter that the National Front has targeted the most by offering state-funded help. This year, Syahadad's profits nearly doubled after he participated in a government programme to help small businesses by providing them with cheap loans and free professional advice on managing their operations more efficiently.

"All of us must support the government because of what the government has genuinely done to help us," Syahadad said, echoing the ubiquitous message that the National Front is pushing through TV and radio commercials, highway billboards, full-page newspaper advertisements, glossy pamphlets stuffed into mailboxes and cellphone text messages.

The publicity blitz also warns that the opposition cannot be trusted to rule. The National Front says that if its rivals win, foreign investors will eventually flee Malaysia and leave the country in financial tatters.

But for landscape architect Ng Sek San and most opposition supporters, the theme that really resonates is "change".

Ng Sek San has earned praise for his work in Malaysian hotels and parks, but he considers his latest initiative,called the "Malaysian Spring," to be among his most ambitious.

The volunteer movement that he and his friends introduced through Facebook this past month has prompted residents of Kuala Lumpur's suburbs to hand-produce and plant tens of thousands of colourful miniature flags in grassy sidewalks and playgrounds, symbolising their hope for a fresh political start.

"It's a very literal interpretation of what spring is," Ng said in an interview at his office and gallery, which showcases his designs and works by Malaysian artists. "When you change from dark, cold winter days into spring, everything becomes brighter and everybody gets more excited."

The movement has attracted mainly middle-class Malaysians such as Ng, who feel strongly about clean government. For decades, most voters were content to let the long-ruling National Front coalition lead, as Malaysia steadily evolved from a backwater of rubber plantations, tin mines, fishing villages and rice paddies into an industrialised country that manufactures microchips and solar panels and even boasted the world's tallest building - the gleaming 88-story Petronas Twin Towers - for nearly six years.

Now a growing bank of educated middle class voters is tiring of widely alleged corruption and accusations that the National Front has become bloated with self-serving politicians who enrich themselves and their business friends.

Thanks to the internet, such perceptions have spread in recent years, as independent news websites and bloggers investigate government contracts and the use of public funds.

"A regime change, I guess, is important because the present regime has probably ruled for so long, and it's no secret that people are unhappy with a lot of things," Ng said.

Joy Gracia Liso is one of more than 2 (m) million people who are registered to vote for the first time. The opposition hopes these new voters in particular will feel bold enough about handing a five-year mandate to its candidates.

Walking through a campus hall that will host her graduation ceremony in October, Liso says she's more excited about voting than getting her degree in teaching.

Her father, a retired policeman, helped her raise 350 ringgit (115 US dollars) - a month's living expenses for her - to buy a flight ticket so that she can return to her home state in Borneo to vote. Liso is making the extra effort partly because she feels the odds are stacked unfairly in favour of the National Front.

She says that her rural relatives in the Kelabit indigenous tribe have told her they had received money in exchange for supporting National Front candidates in previous elections. The ruling coalition has long denied claims that it buys or tampers with votes in closely fought constituencies.

For many opposition supporters, the alleged dirty tactics depict the difference between a ruling coalition that's desperate to avoid losing and an opposition that's largely untested - but also untainted.