KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Malaysians online directed their anger at the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) today after the latter abruptly called off a planned media briefing on the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370.

Resorting to jokes and sarcasm, numerous Twitter users expressed their frustration after an anticipated press conference that was already postponed half an hour from its original time of 3.30pm.

“The guy on Awani slapping DCA for their unprofessionalism. “don’t make a PC unless you are really ready”. 100% agree with him,” tweeted tech writer Effi Nazrel Saharudin on his account @1Obefiend, drawing over 500 retweets at the time of writing.

Effi was referring to a comment by a broadcast journalist on news TV channel Astro Awani, who expressed his exasperation on air straight after the cancellation announcement.

“SLM. SYABAS DCA ! BERJAYA BIKIN SATU DUNIA MELOPONGGGGG ! SEOLAH KENA APRIL FOOL BULAT BULAT ! EEEEEEEE,” tweeted popular TV host Azwan Ali on his account @azwanhjali.

[Translation: Congratulations DCA! You have succeeded in leaving the whole world’s mouth open! As if we got pranked in April Fools!]

The briefing, which was called off “due to unforeseen circumstances”, was also attended by family members of the victims, leading some to extend their sympathies to them.

“Poor families & friends who came for DCA, waited for so long & at last they cancelled it #MH370,” tweeted user @NabyllahZin.

Rumours were also spreading on Twitter that the briefing was cancelled because of the sudden appearance of the family members, when it was originally planned only for the press.

Malay Mail Online is currently waiting whether the press conference will be rescheduled today.

“There must be a legit reason why the DCA would call off a PC which are attended by people from China but question is, how big is the reason?” asked user @mumuedstar.

On March 24 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak confirmed that the missing MAS jetliner MH370 “ended” its journey in the southern Indian Ocean, but stopped short of saying that the Boeing 777 aircraft had crashed into the vast ocean.