Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was praised today by Lim Kit Siang for breakthroughs in negotiations for the flight recorders and the remains of those onboard MH17. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Veteran DAP politician Lim Kit Siang today trumpeted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s breakthrough in negotiations for the flight recorders and the remains of the 298 people killed in the downing of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine.

In a rare statement of praise to his political adversary, Kit Siang commended the prime minister and called for even greater unity on the disaster in which 44 Malaysians were among the dead.

“The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is to be commended for the breakthrough,” Lim said after news that two black boxes of flight MH17 had been handed over to Malaysian experts and that the remains of most of the 298 victims are being moved to Amsterdam.

The investigations into the air tragedy could be a drawn-out affair, taking up to three years, Lim said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (right) and DPM Muhyiddin Yassin observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims before the start of a special session convened to discuss the MH17 tragedy in Parliament, Kuala Lumpur July 23, 2014. — Reuters pic A guard rides on a train carrying the remains of victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine as it arrives in the city of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic Lyudmila Vorobyeva, Russian ambassador to Malaysia, speaks to journalists during a news conference at the Russian embassy in Kuala Lumpur July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic Journalists work after a train carrying the remains of victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine arrived in the city of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic A Ukrainian policeman watches as a train carrying the remains of the victims of Malaysia Airlines MH17 downed over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine arrives in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic A monk stands between protesters during demonstrations demanding justice for the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 at a rally held by UMNO's youth wing outside the Ukrainian embassy in Kuala Lumpur July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic People look at a sea of flowers outside Schiphol Airport in memory of the victims of Flight MH17 July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic A man photographs tributes outside Newcastle United’s St James’ stadium in Newcastle, northern England July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic A board, with a message referencing Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, is seen outside the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) near the crash site of Flight MH17 in Donetsk region July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic A member of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry walks near parts of the wreckage at a crash site of Flight MH17 near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo), Donetsk region July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic Friends and relatives of Jenny Loh and Popo Fan, owners of a popular restaurant Asian Glories, participate in a silent march to pay their respects in Rotterdam July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic A message for families and victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 is seen at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic A satellite image shows the crash site of Flight MH17 in Ukraine, in this July 20, 2014 DigitalGlobe handout photo. — Reuters pic The train transporting the remains of victims from Flight MH17 departs from the railway station in Torez, Donetsk region July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic An armed pro-Russian separatist stands guard near the train transporting the remains of victims from Flight MH17 before its departure in Torez, Donetsk region July 21, 2014. — Reuters pic Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak leaves a news conference, after announcing that two black boxes from Flight MH17 will be handed over to Malaysia by Ukrainian rebels, in Kuala Lumpur July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic A Malaysian expert examines a black box belonging to Flight MH17 during its handover from pro-Russian separatists, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic Members of the media take pictures as a pro-Russian separatist places black boxes belonging to Flight MH17 on a desk, before their handover to Malaysian representatives, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic A representative from pro-Russian separatists shakes hands with Colonel Mohamed Sakri of the Malaysian National Security Council after signing documents on the handing over of Flight MH17’s black boxes, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic A pro-Russian separatist shows members of the media a black box belonging to Flight MH17, before its handover to Malaysian representatives, in Donetsk July 22, 2014. — Reuters pic Previous Next

“Be that it as it may, Malaysians must remain united as one people on the MH17 disaster, continuing to give full backing to the Prime Minister,” he said.

He also called for continued support for the government’s demand for swift justice against the people who brought the plane down.

Lim said he is concerned whether international calls for an independent and credible probe would be heeded by the three parties key to the investigations — Russian-backed separatists, Russia and Ukraine.

Lim’s son, Lim Guan Eng, the chief minister of Penang state, issued a less emphatic statement welcoming the development.

DAP is “willing to stand together” with Najib’s administration to support Malaysia’s efforts in the matter, the younger Lim said blandly.

Najib announced last night that the Ukrainian separatist force had agreed to release the remains of 282 victims recovered from the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, as well as the two black boxes recovered from the flight wreckage.

He said Alexander Borodai, the self-styled leader of the rebel movement in eastern Ukraine, had agreed during a phone conversation between the two to hand over the remains to Dutch representatives.

Flight MH17, which was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

US officials have said the jet was shot down by Russian-backed rebels.