Families demand justice as jet anniversary looms

Prime Minister Najib Razak attended the sombre service at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday. Photo / AP

Families of those killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine last year have demanded justice at an emotional memorial ceremony before the disaster's first anniversary.

Prime Minister Najib Razak attended the sombre service at Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday, and relatives of those who died used the opportunity to air their continued frustrations over the handling of the tragedy.

"We want to find out who shot down the plane. We must find out," said Ivy Loi, whose husband Captain Eugene Choo was one of the pilots on July 17, 2014.

Loi attended the service with her two sons and relatives.

"We're just trying to cope," she said as she wiped away tears.

Grieving families observed a minute's silence. Many cried when the names of the passengers scrolled across screens in tribute to the dead.

The Boeing 777 was travelling between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down in eastern Ukraine.

All 298 passengers and crew died, most of them Dutch as well as 38 Australian citizens and residents.

But Moscow denied it was involved and pointed the finger at Ukraine's military.

Najib said the international criminal probe could be completed by the end of the year.

- AAP