As tempers flare, minister says Malaysia to send ‘high-level’ team to Beijing

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Malaysia is sending a “high-level” team of seasoned officials to Beijing to brief the distraught families of the 153 Chinese passengers aboard the missing flight MH370, acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

He acknowledged the increasing frustration that had led to stinging criticism of Malaysia’s handling of the crisis, which had culminated in a scene of chaos at the MH370 briefing centre in Sepang just minutes before he was to speak at a news conference nearby.

“Emotions are running high… I appeal to everybody to understand we are trying our best,” he told a news conference in Sepang that was also broadcast live on television.

Moments earlier, several individuals believed to be family members of the Chinese nationals aboard the Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) jetliner that disappeared 11 days ago, stormed into the media briefing centre pressing the Malaysian government to be more forthcoming with the findings.

Their sudden protest comes after more than a week’s worth of scathing editorials in China’s state-run newspaper Xinhua, demanding greater openness from Kuala Lumpur and MAS.

China’s Premier Li Keqiang had asked Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to provide details about the missing flight “in a timely, accurate and comprehensive manner”.

Hishammuddin said the team would consist of personnel from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and MAS.

He added that their main task is to brief and update the families in Beijing “on the latest situation, and on search and rescue plans”.

Hishammuddin added that RMAF’s air operation commander, Lieutenant-General Datuk Seri Ackbal Abdul Samad, will lead the team together with DCA’s air traffic services director Ahmad Nizar Zolfakar, and a senior Boeing 777 pilot.

Yesterday, relatives of some of the Chinese passengers, who were camping at the facilities arranged by MAS ground staff in Beijing, threatened to go on hunger strike in an effort to force more information from Malaysia.

International news agencies reported those planning the strike were also dissatisfied that the Malaysian ambassador to China was not at the briefings.

Malaysia’s initial missteps in managing the crisis that saw a delay in a response to inquiries as well as contradictory statements issued by various investigating agencies have been highly criticised by the international news media.