Can Malaysia provide a credible guarantee for the MH370 search?

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Lim Kit Siang Questions Credibility of Malaysia's MH370 Search Guarantee

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has raised concerns about Putrajaya's ability to offer a credible guarantee that Malaysia will not abandon the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. He accused authorities of insensitivity and a lack of respect following the last-minute cancellation of a press conference by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), suggesting these actions might indicate a move to absolve responsibility or end the search efforts. The DCA had formally declared the Boeing 777 jetliner lost, with all 239 passengers presumed dead, a move that allowed families to begin the process of claiming damages.
Lack of Consultation with Next-of-Kin

Lim Kit Siang questioned the decision-making process that led to the announcement of MH370 being declared lost. He specifically asked why the bereaved families were not informed and consulted prior to the official announcement made by the DCA. The press conference, initially scheduled for 3:30 PM, was cancelled at the last minute, with a televised address taking place hours later without the presence of the media or the next-of-kin, a handling that families described as lacking courage and failing to provide closure respectfully.
Concerns Over Abandoning the Search

A significant fear expressed by Lim Kit Siang is that the announcement and the perceived avoidance of direct engagement with the families are preliminary steps towards the authorities absolving themselves of responsibility for the disaster. He further suggested that these actions could signal an impending decision to cease the ongoing search for the missing aircraft. The absence of the Prime Minister and the Transport Minister during these announcements was seen as reinforcing the families' fears that the authorities might be distancing themselves from the tragedy.
Previous Confirmation of Southern Indian Ocean Location

Last year, on March 24, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had confirmed that MH370 had ended its journey in the southern Indian Ocean, based on data analysis from the British satellite firm Inmarsat. This data indicated that the aircraft's last known position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth. Despite this previous confirmation of the plane's trajectory, Lim Kit Siang is seeking a firm and categorical guarantee from the current government that the search will not be prematurely concluded.
Interim Report and Challenges of Recovery

The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was expected to release an interim report on the investigation into the missing plane on March 7. However, the immense challenge of locating the aircraft, which disappeared on March 8 last year with 239 people on board, remains a significant hurdle. Retired Australian Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who led Australia's response to MH370, has previously stated that it is possible the plane might never be found in the deep waters of the vast ocean, highlighting the difficulties inherent in the search operations.

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Can Malaysia provide a credible guarantee for the MH370 search?

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