PEKAN: PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia maintained its honour and dignity in its handling of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 tragedy.

Although Malaysia was a small country, he said, it would always maintain its dignity in whatever conditions, including when managing the downing of MH17.

“There are times I have to stay awake up to 3am and 4am to make a call and discuss with world leaders, including the pro-Russian separatists leader Alexander Borodai.

“Thank God, we managed to get back the two black boxes from MH17 and take out the remains (of the MH17 victims) from the crash site,” he said at a breaking of fast function with the people at Kampung Tanjung Medang here yesterday.

Present were state assembly Speaker Datuk Ishak Muhamad and Bebar assemblyman Mohamad Fakharuddin Mohd Ariff.

Najib said the MH17 tragedy was one of the tests from Allah during Ramadan.

“Allah will always test us during the fasting month apart from hunger and thirst.

“The MH17 incident is the biggest challenge for the country which I have to tackle during this holy month.”

Najib, who is Pekan member of parliament, also expressed hope that Muslims would get the blessings of Allah throughout Ramadan and celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri without problems.

At the function, Najib also presented aid to senior citizens and cut a pulut kuning cake to celebrate his 61st birthday, that fell on Wednesday.

-NST