MH370 Tragedy: RM14.2m compensation paid to next-of-kin of passengers, crew

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Life Insurers had paid over RM14.2 million in compensation payouts to the next-of-kin of the ill-fated MH370 passengers and crew members.

President of Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) Vincent Kwo said payments had been and was being made to several next-of-kin over the past two weeks without having to go through the normal process.

 

"We understand the grief of the family members and are ready to make payouts faster and make it easier for the next-of-kin to claim.

 

"We had waived the requirement of death certificates, and setting this as a top priority, we had put in our best efforts to pay out claims within a week from the receipt of full documentations.  

 

"The total amount of claims paid to the next-of-kin to date stands at approximately RM14.2 million out of a total exposure of RM18.7 million.

 

"A total of 184 policies were issued by life insurance companies in Malaysia. The balance of RM4.5 million claims are pending the official submission of documentation by the next-of-kin," he said.

 Malaysia is generous enough!!!

MH370 Tragedy: Europe to toughen black box rules for tracking, after tragedy

PARIS: The European Aviation Safety Agency has drawn up proposals to make it easier to find black boxes from missing aircraft, in the strongest official reaction so far to the disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines jet, sources familiar with the matter said.

The proposals will bring into force some recommendations that were put forward by France after the loss of an Air France jet in the Atlantic in 2009, but which were never implemented.

 

These include the addition of a new pinger frequency making it easier to locate the recording devices under water.

 

An opinion due to be published by the agency also calls for an increase in the minimum amount of recording time on cockpit voice recorders to make it easier to understand plane crashes.

 

Flight MH370 is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean some seven hours after it went missing on March 8, meaning the standard two-hour recording loop would not cover conversatins during the crucial early stages of the flight. -- Reuters

Obama in KL: Royal welcome for Obama on historic Malaysia trip

KUALA LUMPUR: President Barack Obama is opening the first visit to Malaysia by an American president in nearly half a century, underlining the important role that Southeast Asia plays in the president’s efforts to forge deeper ties to the Asia-Pacific region.

Excited by the occasion, Obama’s hosts treated him to a truly royal welcome.  

 

After changing into a Tuxedo following his arrival Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Obama was taken to the Istana Negara, the National Palace, where he was the honored guest at a 600-person state dinner in a banquet hall inside the king’s massive, gilded residence. 

 

Trumpets blared as Obama was escorted into the room and led to a tufted, high-backed chair that sported the royal seal and seemed almost too large for him.  

   

During a brief toast, Obama expressed his deep gratitude to the Malaysian people for including some of his late mother’s artwork in a museum exhibit two years ago.

 

He also spoke of Lyndon B. Johnson, the last American president to visit Malaysia.

 

Obama recalled how Johnson had been impressed during his 1966 visit by the “extraordinary vitality and eagerness he saw on the faces of the people of Southeast Asia.”  

   

“I’m eager to see that same spirit tomorrow,” Obama said.  

   

The king, in his toast, said Obama’s visit illustrated “the excellent state of the longstanding relations between our governments.”  

   

Earlier Saturday, Obama stepped off of Air Force One and onto a red carpet at the Royal Malaysian Air Base.

 

He was whisked by limousine to Parliament Square, where he was greeted with a 21-gun salute as he watched from beneath a yellow awning, flanked by the king and prime minister.

 

A military band played the U.S. and Malaysian national anthems — twice — and Obama inspected an elaborate honor guard in crisp green and white before the ceremony ended.  

   

During Obama’s two-day visit, which follows stops in Japan and South Korea, the president will also meet with citizen leaders and hold a town hall-style forum with young leaders from across the region.

 

But Obama will not meet with a prominent Malaysian opposition leader despite appeals from human rights groups.  

   

Trade, defense and maritime security are among the issues Obama and Najib were expected to discuss during talks scheduled for Sunday.

 

Malaysia is one of a dozen countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations, a top priority for Obama’s global economic agenda.  

   

Last month’s disappearance of a commercial airliner carrying 239 people put Malaysia in the international spotlight as Obama was preparing to head to the region. The U.S. is assisting in the massive and widening search effort.  

   

Absent from Obama’s itinerary in Malaysia: A meeting with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who presents the most potent political threat to Najib amid a decline in Najib’s popular support over the past two elections.  

   

The U.S. spurned calls from human rights groups for the president himself to meet with the 66-year-old former deputy prime minister, but was instead sending Susan Rice, his national security adviser and former U.N. ambassador, to meet with him.  

   

Anwar was recently convicted for the second time on sodomy charges that the U.S. and international human rights groups have claimed are politically motivated. Anwar is appealing, and could be forced to give up his seat in parliament and go to prison if he loses.  

   

Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, told reporters traveling with Obama that the president typically does not meet with opposition leaders during foreign visits, but felt the issue was important enough to dispatch Rice instead.

 

Obama and other top officials have raised Anwar’s case in past meetings with Malaysian officials, Rhodes added.  

   

Halfway through the eight-day, four-nation trip, Obama has started showing signs of weariness from the mileage and the 12- to 13-hour time shift from Washington while traveling in Asia.

 

He normally jogs up the stairs to Air Force One, but on Saturday slowed to a walk instead.  

   

Before departing Seoul on Saturday, Obama addressed U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and received a military briefing focused on North Korea.

 

Obama will spend Monday and Tuesday in the Philippines before returning to Washington.--AP

U.S. President Barack Obama, Yang DiPertuan Agung Tuanku Abdul Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, step down the dias during the state welcoming ceremony at the Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur. NSTP/Effendy Rashid

Obama in KL: Obama leaves Malaysia after 'milestone' visit

SUBANG: United States President Barack Obama left Malaysia today after completing a three-day state visit, a historic milestone nearly 50 years after the trip by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The Air Force One carrying the American president took off about 10.20 am from the Subang military base in the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Among those present to bid him farewell were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. 

Obama is headed for the Philippines, the final stop of his four-nation tour of Asia. He had visited Japan and South Korea, prior to Malaysia.  

In his final engagement, Obama witnessed the signing of several commercial deals between Malaysian and American companies worth US$2 billion in the aviation, biotechnology and insurance sectors. 

Also present at the event in a Kuala Lumpur hotel  today was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. 

Both leaders held bilateral talks in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya on Sunday, which saw both nations agreeing to upgrade their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership. 

The US has also pledged to continue providing Malaysia with whatever search and investigation assistance needed in the mission to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 aircraft. 

Other highlights of Obama's visit was his town hall session with youth leaders from across Southeast Asia and a visit to the National Mosque. 

The president also attended a state banquet with the Malaysian King, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, at Istana Negara a few hours after his arrival Saturday.   --BERNAMA

US President Barack Obama on board Air Force One departs from RMAF base in Subang at 10.20am. Pix by Khairull Azry Bidin.

MH370 Tragedy: MAS to pay compensation soonest possible: Jauhari

KUALA LUMPUR: Following is the statement by Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Group Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Airlines on Flight MH370.

MH370 Incident

55 days since Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370’s disappearance on 8 March 2014, a multi-nation search is still ongoing for the missing aircraft, its passengers and crew.

This enormous search mission was carried out with the support from more than 20 states, firstly in the South China Sea, in the Malacca Straits, and on land along the Northern Corridor, and since mid-March when specialised assets were deployed in the air, on the sea and underwater in the southern Indian Ocean, where top experts concluded the aircraft’s last known position was.

Despite such an intensified search operations, probably the largest one in human history, we have to face the hard reality that there is still no trace of the aircraft, and the fate of the missing passengers and crew remains unknown till this day.

Malaysia Airlines is acutely conscious of, and deeply sympathetic to the continuing unimaginable anguish, distress and hardship suffered by those with loved ones on board the flight.

We share the same very feelings and have been doing whatever we can to ease the pain of the families and to provide comfort for them.

The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) in Australia has announced early this week that the search operation in the southern Indian Ocean will be moving to a new phase in the coming weeks, and it is certainly not ending.

In this new phase, the Malaysian Government, working together with Australia and Chinese governments, other international partners and specialised companies, plans to intensify the undersea search by deploying more technologically advanced assets in the search zone.

The Malaysian Government recently announced its decision to establish an international investigation team led by Malaysia. The members will include accredited representatives from the US, UK, Australia, China, France and Singapore. Also included are representatives from relevant international organisations and the civil aviation industry.

This investigation is an independent process in accordance with ICAO standards and recommended practices. Malaysia Airlines commits itself to fully support this independent investigation and provide full information and assistance as required.

From past experience, we understand the continuing search and investigation would be a prolonged process. While Malaysia Airlines is committed to continuing its support to the families during the whole process, we are adjusting the mode of services and support. Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by Malaysia Airlines within the comfort of their own homes, with the support and care of their families and friends.

In line with this adjustment, Malaysia Airlines will be closing all of its Family Assistance Centres around the world by 7 May 2014.

Malaysia Airlines will keep in close touch with the families on news updates through telephone calls, messages, the Internet, and face-to-face meetings. With the support of the Malaysian Government, the airline’s Family Support Centres will be established in Kuala Lumpur and in Beijing. The detailed plan of follow-up support and services will be informed in person to the families.

Malaysia Airlines will make advanced compensation payments soonest possible to the nominated next-of-kin who are entitled to claim compensation, in order to meet their immediate economic needs.

Such advanced payments will not affect the rights of the next-of-kin to claim compensation according to the law at a later stage, and will be calculated as part of the final compensation.

Immediately after the next-of-kin have returned home, our representatives will be in touch with them at the earliest opportunity to initiate the advanced compensation payment process.

At this very difficult time, we wish to once again thank everyone for their understanding and support, especially from the families of the passengers and crew on board.

Malaysia Airlines’ thoughts and prayers remain with the families of all those onboard MH370.

Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines Ahmad Jauhari Yahya. Pix by Fariz Iswadi Ismail.

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MH370 Tragedy: Two C-130 Hercules aircraft to return home

PERTH: Two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft are scheduled to return to Malaysia today night after aerial searches for a missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plane were suspended following an announcement on the intensification of the underwater search.

RMAF 20th Squadron chief Major Muhammad Jafri Suboh said the two planes would depart at 9 pm while another RMAF C-130 would for the time being remain here until further notice.

Muhammad Jafri, who is the detachment commander of the RMAF search operation here, said that 53 air, ground and support crew from the total 78 RMAF personnel involved in the operation would leave Base Pearce tonight.

"Personally I see that all my personnel have shown a high level of commitment and professionalism whether they are undertaking flight duties or the maintenance crew.

"They work hard 24 hours to ensure the aircraft is ready to fly," he told Bernama and RTM when met at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce in Bullsbrook.

The two RMAF planes along with the 53 crew are expected to arrive at the RMAF base in Subang around 10 am on Wednesday.

The involvement of RMAF personnel in the search operation in the Indian Ocean for the MAS Flight MH370, missing since March 8, began on March 29.

On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told a media conference in Canberra that the search mission would enter a new phase with more focus to be given over a much larger area of the ocean floor.

He said the decision was made after considering, among others, that it was highly unlikely at this stage that any aircraft debris would be found on the ocean surface.

However, he pointed out that a few vessels from Australia, Malaysia and China would continue with the maritime search and that RAAF P3-Orion aircraft would be put on standby.

Commenting further on the overall RMAF mission here, Muhammad Jafri said it was a proud for moment for RMAF and the crew to have been able to join the multinational search mission.

He said although the aerial search had stopped at this stage, the RMAF personnel were ready to return to action if needed.

Meanwhile, RAAF group commander Craig Heap thanked and praised the RMAF team for their "tremendous job" delivered with a high level of dedication and professionalism as the three RMAF planes undertook 43 missions and overcame numerous challenges, particularly extreme weather conditions.

Heap noted that all the six nations involved in the air search operation had to battle long hours of visual searching amid challenging conditions, including those posed by the weather.

"But we were tremendously motivated to arrive at an outcome and bring closure for the families of those aboard the Malaysian plane," he said.

Heap said that cooperation with RMAF, which had been going on long before the search operation was initiated, would continue although the aerial search mission in the Indian Ocean had ceased.

The six nations involved in the aerial search were Malaysia, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.

Heap pointed out that the Australian P3-Orion would be put on standby at Base Pearce while the aircraft from other nations would return to their home countries in stages over the next few days.

They might rejoin the search operation if required, he added.

Flight MH370 with 239 people onboard disappeared from radar screens about an hour into its flight while over the South China Sea.

A multinational search was mounted for the plane, first in the South China Sea and then, after it was learnt that the plane had veered off course, in the southern Indian Ocean.-- BERNAMA

In this April 17 file pic, a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft takes off from Pearce Airbase in Perth, Australia. AP Photo

MH370 Tragedy: Japan requests to join expert panel

KUALA LUMPUR: Japan has requested to take part in the international panel of experts looking into the Malaysia Airlines MH370 tragedy, said Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said Japan was welcomed to join in as the panel was transparent and credible.

"We have no problem getting people to come onboard because the whole world wants to know about MH370 and, like I said before, probably what we find out about MH370 will change the history of aviation," he told reporters.

Hishammuddin had earlier received a courtesy visit from his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera at the Defence Ministry in Jalan Semarak, here, today.

He noted that Malaysia and Japan were keen to continue working on issues like ensuring peace and stability in the region, disaster relief, sharing information on counter-terrorism and the defence industry.

On reports that Japan had withdrawn from the search operation for the missing aircraft, Hishammuddin said: "It's very far from the truth. It's defence minister came just now to ask what more they could do to help.

"This shows their commitment to the search effort is still strong."

This was the first meeting between Hishammuddin and Onodera since the latter became Japan's defence minister in December, 2012.

Flight MH370 with 239 people onboard disappeared on March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. 

An undersea search operation headed by Australia is currently being conducted in the waters off Perth, Australia.-- BERNAMA

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein receives a courtesy call from his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera at the Defence Ministry in Jalan Semarak. Pix by Yazit Razali

MH370 Tragedy: Ex-DCA DG to lead international investigation team

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has hired Datuk Kok Soo Chon, a former director-general at the department of civil aviation, to lead the international investigation team tasked to find the cause of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the government said today.

Other team members are from the U.S. National Transport Safety Board, Britain's Air Accidents Investigations Branch, China's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, France's Land Transport Accident Investigation Bureau, the Australia Transport Safety Bureau, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and British satellite communications company Inmarsat.

The team also has representatives from Singapore and Indonesia.

"The main purpose of the international investigation team is to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the incident so similar incidents could be avoided in the future,"  Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

The investigation, he said in a statement, "is not aimed at apportioning blame or liability with regards to the incident".

The search for Flight MH370, which vanished while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 people on board, has so far failed to turn up any trace of wreckage from the plane.

Efforts have focused on a vast expanse of water in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia. It remains unclear what caused the Boeing 777 to veer sharply off course and disappear from radar as it prepared to cross into Vietnamese airspace.

Malaysia will discuss with other countries involved in the search, the deployment of equipment with deep sea search capabilities, the cost of the operation and how best to keep next of kin informed. It is also verifying reports of potential wreckage sightings in the Bay of Bengal, the statement said.   --REUTERS

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein speaks during a press conference held in Kuala lumpur on April 23. Pix by Asyraf Hamzah

MH370 Tragedy: Press statement by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein

ACTING MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said:

“The fact that MH370 has still not been found underscores the complexity and difficulty of this search operation.

We are tremendously grateful for the effort the Australian authorities have made, leading the search for MH370 off the coast of Perth.

“Malaysia will discuss with our international counterparts, including Australia, how the new search operation, as announced by Prime Minister Abbott on Monday, will proceed.

This discussion will include issues such as the deployment of assets with deep sea search capabilities, the cost of the operation and how best authorities can ensure the next of kin of those onboard MH370 are properly informed of the latest developments.

“In line with Malaysia’s consistent stand of verifying and corroborating any new lead since Day 1 of the search operations, we are aware of a report citing the detection of potential aircraft wreckage in the Bay of Bengal.

China and Australia are also aware of this report. Malaysia is working with its international partners to assess the credibility of this information.”

We have also appointed the Investigator in Charge for the International Investigation Team – Dato Kok Soo Chon.

He is the former Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation and also a former permanent representative to the ICAO Council in Montreal.

The International Investigation Team, which has already commenced its work, has accredited representatives from the US National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), the UK Air Accident Investigation Bereau (AAIB), China’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) of The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), France’s Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA), the Austrialia Transport Safety Bereau (ATSB) and representatives of ASEAN from Singapore and Indonesia.

Included in the team are also Boeing, who is under the US Accredited Representative and Rolls Royce and Inmarsat, who are under the UK Accredited Representative.

The main purpose of the International Investigation Team is to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the incident so similar incidents could be avoided in the future.

I would like to stress that this investigation is not aimed at apportioning blame or liability with regards to the incident.

It is imperative for the government to form this independent team of investigators which is not only competent and transparent but also highly credible.

This investigation will be carried out in accordance with Annex 13 -  Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) as implemented by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1996, which requires each party to investigate air accidents independently with full powers in their respective countries. 

FILE PICTURE. Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein during a press conference of the Missing MH370 flight at Royale Chulan Hotel. NSTP/Yazit Razali

MH370 Tragedy: Info on potential plane wreckage being verified

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and its international partners are verifying the credibility of information that the wreckage of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 plane could possibly be in the Bay of Bengal.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this was in line with Malaysia's consistent stand of verifying and corroborating any new lead since day one of the search operation.

 

In a statement Monday, he also announced the appointment of former Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Kok Soo Chon as the investigator in charge of the international investigation team looking into the MH370 tragedy.

 

Elaborating, Hishammuddin said Malaysia was aware of a report citing the detection of potential aircraft wreckage in the Bay of Bengal while China and Australia were also aware of it.

 

"Malaysia is working with its international partners to assess the credibility of this information," he said.

 

Flight MH370 with 239 people aboard left the KL International Airport at 12.41 am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am the same day.    

 

A multinational search was mounted for the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, first in the South China Sea and then, after it was learnt that the plane had veered off course, in the southern Indian Ocean.    

 

Hishammuddin added that Malaysia would discuss with its international counterparts, including Australia, how the new search operation as announced by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday, would proceed. 

 

"This discussion will include issues such as the deployment of assets with deep sea search capabilities, the cost of the operation and how best authorities can ensure the next-of-kin of those onboard MH370 are properly informed of the latest developments," Hishammuddin said. 

 

He noted the fact that MH370 had still not been found underscored the complexity and difficulty of the search operation. 

 

"We're tremendously grateful for the effort the Australian authorities have made, leading the search for MH370 off the coast of Perth," he said.

 

On the appointment of the investigator in charge of the international investigation team, he said that Kok was also a former permanent representative to the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council (ICAO) in Montreal.

 

He said the team, which had already commenced its work, had accredited representatives from the United States National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) and the United Kingdom Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

 

Others on the team include China's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), France's Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (DEA), Australia Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and representatives of Asean from Singapore and Indonesia. 

 

"Included in the team are also Boeing, who is under US Accredited Representative, and Rolls Royce and Inmarsat, who are under UK Accredited Representative," he said. 

 

Hishammuddin said the main purpose of the international investigation team was to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the incident to avoid similar incidents in the future. 

 

"I would like to stress that this investigation is not aimed at apportioning blame or liability with regards to the incident. It is imperative for the government to form this indipendent team of investors which is not only competent and transparent but also highly credible," he added. 

Mystery of MH370 : Armed forces chief regret foreign media reports

KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces chief has expressed regret over some foreign media reports in connection with the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370, which appeared to have a fixed agenda to project Malaysia in a negative light.

General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin noted there were several untrue media reports while others were extreme and did not take into account the real situation or constraints faced by the Malaysian authorities in providing information on the incident.

 

“We have been accused of delay in providing information when each piece of information we get must be corroborated (with various national and foreign authorities), before taking any action.

 

"Only in certain situations, do we (Armed Forces) take action or respond to information on our own," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Warrior Exercise 15 Series 2014 here today.

 

He said some information could not be disclosed to the public because of the implications on ongoing investigations.

 

"Maybe, they (the foreign media) have their own agenda, which is why we have been so badly criticised," noted Zulkifeli.

 

Malaysia had prepared all the necessary responses, including providing information, based on existing regulations and guidance.

 

"We have done everything, including coordinating all sources. All information on the incident and the necessary action (taken) to search (for the aircraft) have been disclosed," he said. - BERNAMA

Mystery of MH370 : I never believed foreign media's negative reports

PUTRAJAYA: The father of a Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 passenger, Zamani Zakaria, says he had never believed speculation by the foreign media about the missing aircraft since the first day of the mishap.

Zamani, 56, father of Mohd Razahan, 23, said his family only relied on information from the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and the Malaysian authorities.

 

"But sometimes the speculation affected our emotion, they should not accuse the Malaysian government without any proof," he said when asked to comment on several foreign media reports on the aircraft which went missing on March 8.

 

He stressed that the foreign media should not arbitrarily make accusations in the current situation whereby the search and rescue (SAR) operation was being rigorously conducted by Malaysia and 26 other countries.

 

Zamani said SAR which had entered the 24th day also showed MAS was always in contact with them to inform the latest development.

 

A local newspaper reported today that the eldest child of the pilot of MH370, Aisyah Zaharie, 28, had expressed anger and disappointment over the report by a foreign portal, Daily Mail, which she claimed slandered her father.

 

The newspaper report quoted Aishah's Facebook as saying 'Slander is worse than murder. I will not forgive you', when referring to the report.

 

Meanwhile, Zamani, when asked about his wife Kamariah Sharif's condition said, she believes her son-in-law and daughter Norli Akmar Hamid, 33, were still alive because there was no proof to link the objects found at sea, to MH370. -BERNAMA

Mystery Of MH370 : Search intensifies

KUALA LUMPUR: The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines (MAS) jetliner in the remote Indian Ocean has been intensified with the deployment of 10 aircraft and 10 ships.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), in a statement said, the aircraft included a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P3 Orion, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion, a Japanese P3 Orion, a Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream jet.

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Ilyushin IL-76, a South Korea P3 Orion, a United States Navy P8 Poseidon, two Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Hercules, and a civil jet acting as communications relay.

AMSA said the ships comprised HMAS Success and HMAS Toowoomba, seven Chinese ships and a merchant vessel.

"Some parts of the search area will experience low cloud and rain throughout the day," it said.

Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, left the KL International Airport at 12.41 am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while over the South China Sea. It was to have landed in Beijing at 6.30 am on the same day.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak then announced on March 24, seventeen days after the disappearance of Flight MH370 that it "ended in the southern Indian Ocean".

On Sunday, the Australian authority said a number of objects retrieved by HMAS Success and Haixun 01 on Saturday had been examined and were believed to be not related to the missing airliner.-- BERNAMA

Leaders of the international forces currently based in Perth to search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 stand in front of a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft before a visit by Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott at RAAF Base Pearce. REUTERS Photo

Mystery of MH370 : Capt denies Daily Mail report

SHAH ALAM: Malaysian Pilots Association vice-president Captain Abdul Manan Mansor today denied a report by Daily Mail online allegedly quoting him saying that the missing MH370 pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was "psychologically unstable" after a marriage break up.

Abdul Manan not only denied claiming Zaharie was mentally unstable, he also clarified that he has never spoken to Daily Mail"I didn't speak to Daily Mail, I didn't say that Zaharie was psychologically unstable.

"You can disregard the entire article," he said.

The Malaysia Aviation Management College chief executive asserted that he did not know Zaharie personally and would not have known of any marital problems he might or might not have had.

"I don't know Zaharie personally, there are so many pilots registered in Malaysia, it is not unusual for some of us to not cross paths," he said, adding that he also did not know Zaharie's wife or children.