Why was the MH370 briefing limited to BN MPs?

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Briefing Excluded Opposition Due to Lack of Formal Request

The special briefing on the MH370 incident was exclusively for Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament because the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR), had not formally requested such a session. Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein stated that the briefing, organised by the Transport Ministry, was in direct response to an earlier request from the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC).

The session, which lasted three and a half hours and included a dinner, featured officials from the Department of Civil Aviation, the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, and Malaysia Airlines (MAS). Minister Hishammuddin clarified that the information shared was publicly available and not confidential, aligning with his daily press conferences on the matter. He also indicated the government's openness to arranging a similar briefing for PR MPs should a request be submitted by the opposition pact.
Rationale for Exclusion

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein explained that the briefing was held due to a specific request from the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC). He indicated that Pakatan Rakyat MPs were not included because the opposition coalition had not made a similar request for a dedicated session. This suggests that parliamentary briefings are typically organised based on specific requests from constituent groups within Parliament.
Content of the Briefing

The briefing involved officials from key government bodies and the national airline, including the Department of Civil Aviation, the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, and Malaysia Airlines (MAS). The information disseminated was described by Minister Hishammuddin as publicly known and not confidential. This approach appears consistent with the minister's practice of providing daily public updates on the MH370 situation.
Offer for Future Briefings

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein conveyed the government's willingness to conduct a similar briefing for Pakatan Rakyat MPs. He stated that if PR were to submit a request for an update on the MH370 events, the government would comply. This offer suggests a commitment to transparency and keeping all Members of Parliament informed, provided procedural requests are met.
Opposition's Perspective

Opposition MPs, such as Gobind Singh Deo from DAP, expressed dissatisfaction and questioned the minister's explanation. They argued that PR representatives had previously raised concerns and requested updates on the MH370 situation during parliamentary proceedings. The opposition also highlighted that briefings held within Parliament would serve not only MPs but also the wider Malaysian public and contribute to official parliamentary records.

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Why was the MH370 briefing limited to BN MPs?

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