MH17 Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has expressed concern that the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine was being tampered with.

"The integrity of the site has been compromised, and there are indications that vital evidence has not been preserved...

"Interfering with the scene of the crash risks undermining the investigation itself," he stressed at a press conference this afternoon.

Liow said such action would be tantamount to a betrayal to the 298 lives that were lost on the flight which was believed to have been shot down.

"Any actions that prevent us from learning the truth about what happened to MH17 cannot be tolerated.

"Malaysia calls for all parties to protect the integrity of the crash site, and to allow the investigation to proceed," said Liow.

This come as observers from Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) were not given full access to the crash site by gunmen in the area and items were reportedly looted.

No quarters have officially claimed responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17 and the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists have accused one another of being responsible for the disaster.

‘38 bodies removed’

According to Bernama , Russian-backed rebels were attempting to destroy evidence at the crash site.

The national new agency cited a Ukraine government web portal that the "terrorists" moved 38 bodies of the crash victims to a morgue in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk to conduct an "autopsy".

"The world has a moral obligation to ensure that the remains of all victims are recovered and treated with respect," said Liow.

Liow said MAS chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya is already in Kiev and the minister, together with MAS chairperson Md Nor Yusof and Department of Civil Aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman will depart Kuala Lumpur tonight to join him in a bid to expedite efforts to secure access to the crash site.

Liow was also queried about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's conversation with Russia president Vladamir Putin to which he replied: "They are trying their level best to assist Malaysia to ensure we have safe access to the site."

Asked if Malaysia was taking the position that MH17 was indeed shot down, Liow said indications were such, but declined to say that this was Malaysia's official stance.

Instead, he said Putrajaya will await the final outcome of the investigation.