The families of those lost on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have demanded an apology and a retraction from Malaysian officials after it was announced that all on board the missing plane perished. 

The families say that without any debris, evidence of a crash site, or other proof of the plane's demise, their family members could still be alive. 

Flight MH370 was officially ruled upon by the Malaysian government last Thursday.

"We officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident ... and that all 239 of the passengers and crew onboard MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives," Department of Civil Aviation Director-General Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in a statement.

The flight was headed to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board when it disappeared on March 8, 2014.

The government's ruling allows the families of the passengers and crew to receive compensation, but the grieving family members say that is not what they want. 

"I feel like I am giving it all up if we start talking about compensation," said Zhang Qian, whose husband was on the plane.

"We don't need compensation, and we would be more than glad not to ask for a dime if my husband comes back to me."

"We not only demand the Malaysian government retract the statement, but also issue an apology," added Jiang Hui, whose child was on the flight. "That's the wish of the majority of family members."

Early last week, 110 out of 115 family members voted that the government not issue a statement. 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang emphasised that compensation is just one responsibility the country has to the victims' families.

"We hope the Malaysian side honours its promises and fully investigates the incident, settling claims and making peace with the families, especially continuing to make all efforts to find the missing plane and its passengers," Li said.

Most of the passengers on the doomed flight were from China.