The joint inquiry team into the crash now includes the Netherlands, Ukraine, Australia, Belgium and Malaysia, as well as other international partners. The Netherlands is leading the investigation into the tragedy.
Malaysian Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail told the Malay Mail that the notification of Malaysia's acceptance into the team from the Dutch National Public Prosecutor's Office was conveyed through a letter dated November 28.
On July 17, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
According to a preliminary report issued by the Dutch Safety Board early in September, the plane most likely broke up in mid-air as a result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from the outside.
Kiev has accused independence supporters in eastern Ukraine of shooting the plane down, but has not provided any evidence to back this claim. Local militia leaders say that they do not have weapons capable of shooting down a plane flying at 32,000 feet.
