PUTRAJAYA, March 29 — Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein said three things were requested of Malaysia by the families affected by the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 tragedy.

He revealed this in a media conference held after his closed-door meeting with family members of local passengers and those from China, which lasted for about an hour at the Everly Hotel here today.

According to him, the families had asked that the search and rescue operation (SAR) be continued; that the SAR team would persist in its mission no matter how remote the likelihood of finding any survivors, and for MAS to be more open in communicating with the families concerned, on any developments.

“I assured them that SAR efforts would not cease as it is also being carried out by 26 other countries.

“I said I would ensure smoother communication between MAS and them and more sensitivity for what they are going through,” he said.

Hishammuddin said he also expressed to the families his commitment to continue the SAR efforts no matter how slim the chances were.

“This is what the families asked and I don’t think it is unreasonable. I’ve said from the beginning that even if there is a remote chance of finding survivors, we will do whatever it takes,” he said.

He said the SAR teams were working on the six sightings as a lead but had yet to receive reports on whether any debris had been retrieved.

“More than that I can’t give them false hope, the best we can do is pray and be more sensitive towards them,” he said.      

Asked on the families’ sentiments during the meeting, Hishammuddin said he could sense ‘hope in their eyes’.

Describing the meeting with the families as the hardest part in his role as minister-in-charge for the incident, Hishammuddin said it also gave him the courage to stand true to his commitment.

“But miracles do happen, remote or otherwise, that is the hope they want me to convey not only to the Malaysian government and MAS, but the world at large,” he said. — Bernama