Families of those onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 were urged on Friday to file their claims before the deadlines as they prepare to mark the second anniversary of the accident.

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai urged the families "regardless of nationality to file claims" under the Montreal Convention against Malaysia Airlines by March 8 to preserve their legal rights.

The Montreal Convention sets a limitation of two years to file claims.

"The Malaysian government remains ever conscious that the next-of-kin need to be accorded their legitimate rights as provided under the relevant international and domestic laws," Liow said via his Twitter account.

Malaysia Airlines reiterated its commitment of "fair and equitable compensation" to the families in February, in responding to the concerns expressed by Voice370, A families' support group.

Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with a total of 239 passengers on board, most of them Chinese. Malaysian and French authorities said last year that an aircraft flaperon found on the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion belonged to the missing plane.