KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian authorities involved in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will be heading to Canberra, Australia tomorrow as the search enters a new phase.
Communications and Multimedia deputy minister Datuk Jailani Johari said the deputy defence minister Datuk Abd Rahim Bakri, who is the Chair of the Asset Deployment Committee will be leading a team to coordinate and finalise the terms and arrangements for Malaysia’s participation in this phase of the search operation.
He said the meeting is primarily aimed at ensuring all parties involved are on the same page.
Immediately after the visit to Canberra, Jailani said all the four Chairs of the ministerial sub committees led by Datuk Hamzah Zainudin will be heading to Beijing to update the Chinese counterparts on the latest efforts at the Tripartite level and Malaysia’s contribution.
"We would also be discussing with the Chinese leadership on their views and future plans with regards to the MH370 search operation ranging from issues related to the Next of Kins, asset deployment and technical expertise.
"This team has the mandate from the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to fully engage with the Chinese government, " he said at a press conference in the Royal Chulan hotel here today.
"It must be noted that this trip is a follow up to the recent discussions between the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and China in which both nations have agreed that we remain committed in the search for MH370," he added.
Jailani also said the Transition Phase is well underway, as the authorities enter the 14th week of search operations.
He said Acting Transport Minsiter Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and the four ministerial sub committees, will continue to work closely hand-in-hand, with their counterparts in Australia and China as they face the challenges in the weeks and months ahead.
Jailani added that his task as the Chair of the Liaison, Communication and Media Committee is to liaise with Australia and China to further strengthen and solidify the Tripartite Agreement between the three nations.
With regards to the Next of Kin committee, he said the officials acknowledge Voice370’s request to meet with Najib, Hishammuddin and the Chair of the Next of Kin Committee.
This meeting, he said will be arranged in due time and they look forward to establish a working template in dealing with issues raised by the Next of Kins.
" We give our full assurance to the next of kins, wherever they may be, that we remain fully committed in our search for their loved ones."
On the asset deployment front, Jailani said the sub committee has been tasked, in the meeting in Canberra, to coordinate the participation of Malaysia’s assets especially with regards to the Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), consistent with ATSB’s tender process requirements.
"We will also raise with our Tripartite partners how best to manage and coordinate the deployment of assets that Malaysia has personally requested for from the US and other nation partners."
