SEPANG, March 10 — Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein brushed off suggestions today that the two passengers travelling with stolen passports on board MH370 had “Asian features”, contradicting reports attributing the remark to Cabinet colleague Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Not that I know of,” Hishammuddin told a press conference at Sama-Sama Hotel here.

When pressed to confirm the news, which was carried by Bernama yesterday, the minister told reporters to check with the agency’s sources. 

Told that Bernama had quoted Home Minister Zahid, Hishammuddin replied:

“You are talking to a defence minister and acting transport minister,” he pointed out, referring to himself. “I wouldn’t know.”

Hishammuddin stressed that investigations into the identities of the two passengers are still ongoing and no details could be released as yet.

Earlier today, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said it would be premature for him to comment on Zahid’s claim that the duo had “Asian features”.

Zahid made the revelation last night when announcing an internal probe on the Immigration Department over the incident.

“I am still puzzled how come (immigration officers) cannot think, an Italian and Austrian (passengers) but with Asian facial features,” he was quoted by national newswire Bernama.

Ahmad Zahid noted that the ongoing investigation is being carried out by a special team led by the department’s director-general Datuk Aloyah Mamat, and will focus on their Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) branch.

Speculation of possible foul play in the disappearance of MH370 is mounting after ticketing information showed the duo who boarded using the stolen passports had purchased one-way tickets.

Yesterday, investigations into the plane’s disappearance were expanded to include the possibility that it suffered a mid-air explosion, news agency Reuters reported citing sources.

Flight MH370 has now been missing for more than two days since it lost contact after departing Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Beijing, China on March 8.

There were 239 people on board, including 12 crew members.