KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Malaysia Airlines (MAS) promised the families of MH370 passengers today that they will remain the “centre of every action” taken by local authorities to locate the aircraft that went missing nearly two weeks ago.

In a statement, MAS said its paramount concern is to help the families through the nerve-wracking wait during the search for the aircraft by providing them with any form of assistance and up-to-date information.

“All this while, the families have always been briefed first, followed by the media and then the public whenever new information surfaces,” MAS said.

The airline lamented, however, the many conflicting reports in the media and the wild theories that have surfaced since the plane’s disappearance have only made an already tough experience even more distressing for the next-of-kin of the 239 people on board.

Regardless of the challenge, MAS promised that its Family Support Centre (FSC) would continue to provide round-the-clock assistance to those who need it.

“In addition to personal phone calls, Malaysia Airlines will now send out SMS blasts with brief updates to the families.

“We have also set up an email address for family members as a channel for them to communicate with us. Updates via the Malaysia Airlines website are also available,” MAS said.

The FSC will also house family support representatives trained to assist those waiting for answers and information.

These representatives will be divided into four shifts, with 10 staff members handling each shift.

“This will ensure that someone is available to attend to the families at all times,” MAS said.

Toll-free numbers have also been set up. They are 10-800-130-1364 (South China), 10-800-713-1404 (North China), 1800-81-4819 (Malaysia), 001-803-015-203-7708 (Indonesia), 1800-198-163 (Australia), 877-504-4210 (US/Canada), 080-045-4029 (New Zealand), 000-800-100-3449 (India) and 080-091-2622 (France).

The number of the FSC is +603 8777 5770.

Earlier this evening, the MH370 media briefing centre here was a scene of chaos as relatives of the Chinese passengers aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines plane tried to stage a protest against Purajaya’s handling of the crisis.

Five of them stormed the media room at the Sama-Sama Hotel here and began shouting at Malaysian officials while holding a banner saying, “We demand the Malaysian government reveal the truth”, to express their doubt towards official information released to date.

One of them, a middle-aged woman, was seen crying out aloud, telling the officials to return her son immediately.

“I have been here for four days. I want my son back,” she said in a thick Mandarin accent while the media jostled with each other to record the incident.

The incident forced hotel security to push them out but the five refused, causing skirmishes between them.