APRIL 17 — It has been more than a month since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared from radar screens off the coast of East Peninsular Malaysia. As this article goes online, thousands of people continue to be engaged in an unprecedented massive search operation thousands of miles from home. We continue to wait, hope and pray for news of the discovery of the black box, and hence the location of the missing airplane. 

It has been a heart-breaking and frustrating period, particularly for the hundreds of families affected by this disappearance. I cannot imagine what they are going through and how they continue to cope. Many have stopped watching altogether the daily updates on the news. Seeing and hearing the anxiety, anguish, sadness and resignation on television can be too much. Others, accepting the unspeakable, are moving on with their lives. However, for many, closure only begins with the discovery of the plane.

Looking back at past incidents, Malaysians have always come together in times of tragedy, hardship and sorrow. Take a look at the many Walls of Hope and Prayer set up in malls and public spaces all across the country (and different countries) for the passengers and crew of MH370 and their families. Read the multitude of messages of compassion, hope and prayers which have come in from all over the world. A sign for a prayer vigil was even spotted in Memphis, USA.

Having said that, there is a need for accountability and for hard questions to be asked and answered. 

Whether rightly or wrongly, despite the fact that more than 50 per cent of Malaysians are confident in the way the government is handling the crisis, almost the same proportion believes that the government is hiding information or findings from the on-going investigation into what happened to MH370. 

Basically, we have a trust deficit in our public officials’ ability to be upfront with us and to be credible. It is not often that we see our public officials being flayed and put against the ropes. We might have bristled with patriotic or nationalistic indignation at the treatment they have experienced at the hands of the international press. Some of us might have even experienced a bit of Schadenfreude. 

But you know what? In many respects, I am glad that we have the frontman that Providence saw fit to provide to address this crisis. Think about who could have been the Transport Minister, and you might realise how few of those in the current Cabinet would have been up to the Herculean task that Hishammuddin Hussein has been living with day and night for the past six weeks. It could have been worse.

When we hold hands or stand together during our vigils, interfaith prayer sessions, or while writing messages of compassion, love and support for those affected, we have to remember that this tragedy has brought us temporarily together. There is an opportunity amidst this tragedy. An opportunity to regain trust and heal bonds which have been stressed, traumatised and even broken amidst the strife over the past few years. For sure, this is our watershed moment and there will be a post MH370 period.

There will be those who will be cynical and pessimistic, and point out that already we are back to business as usual. And it is sadly true, especially for the Home Ministry.

But if we are to seek a new way forward, it cannot be a top-down paternalistic approach which we have tolerated for far too long. It must be based on mutual interest and mutual respect. It must also be demonstrated in both words and action. If we haven’t begun, then maybe we should.

A message for Dina Ramli who was on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 together with her sister, mother and aunt.

The reality is that we cannot expect or depend on the politicians, political parties and the civil servants to live up to their responsibilities. I believe that in the end, we depend on the faith and determination of the Malaysian people to carry us through our darkest hours. We need to not fear voicing out our expectations of those we elected into office, extend assistance and support when necessary, and hold them to their word. 

After all, they serve us, the people. And we owe it to those on board MH370 to fight for them. 

We will not give up, either on MH370 or the hope for a better future for our country.

Obviously, our priority is and must continue to be to find the plane, wherever it may be and in whatever condition. We must do what is hard and do whatever it takes. Whatever the cost may be. We must ask and answer the hard questions. We owe it to the families who have undergone and continue to go through a never-ending rollercoaster ride of emotions and heartbreak after every press conference and every announcement. We would expect nothing less if our family members and loved ones were affected.

There are 239 people who will never come home to their families. We know their names. They are someone's daughter, husband, sister, son, grandfather, girlfriend, boyfriend, father and mother. They are our friends and loved ones.

May God bless them and keep their families and loved ones strong in this moment of sorrow and loss. Let us remember their smiles, joy, laughter, tears in good and bad times. Their laughter, voices, joy and tears will never fade or die. For they will forever live in our memories and in our hearts.

Whether they were family, friends or total strangers, we are united in our grief, compassion and shared humanity. 

Let us not forget that we are all MH370.

This article is dedicated to Dina Ramli who was on board MH370 together with her sister, mother and aunt. Dina, where ever you are now, may the sun always shine and the memories and sound of your laughter and joy forever reside in the hearts of your loved ones.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.