KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 ― Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has ordered Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) to discuss and solve the demands made by the next-of-kin of the Chinese nationals that perished on Flight MH370.

According to New Straits Times today, Liow said although the group had failed to formally inform Putrajaya of their arrival here last week, the government will still look into their demands.

“We have established a family communication and support centre for the next-of-kin in Beijing.

“However, the group had not conveyed to us of their intention to meet with Malaysian leaders,” he was quoted as saying.

Liow was responding to the group's demand to meet Malaysian leaders when it held a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport last week.

Two days ago, the Chinese relatives of MH370 passengers gathered outside the Malaysian prime minister’s office to demand his government rescind its declaration that all on board the plane were presumed dead.

“We want an explanation from (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak). And we want him to cancel the declaration that the incident was an accident,” said Kelly Wen, a Chinese national whose husband was on the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight.

Malaysian authorities last month declared the plane’s unexplained disappearance an “accident” under global aviation conventions, saying for the first time that all 239 passengers and crew were presumed dead.

That set off howls of protest from next of kin in Malaysia and China, many of whom have sharply criticised the airline and Malaysian government over the plane’s disappearance.

A group of 21 relatives from China, where criticism from families has been especially intense, came to Malaysia last week to demand the declaration be cancelled and press for information on the plane’s fate.

They said they plan to stay through the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and until they get answers.