BANGI, March 23 — The next-of-kin of the passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 have become calmer now and more confident in the Malaysian Government's efforts to locate the aircraft.
This follows last Thursday's briefing session on the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) efforts undertaken by the Malaysian authorities to find the plane.
The session was attended by representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, transport ministry, Civil Aviation Department, Wisma Putra and MAS representatives.
The Prime Minister's Special Envoy to China, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting said after that briefing session, the family members were now getting familiar with the SAR efforts.
In a special interview with Bernama today, he said the families believed in the sincerity of the Malaysian Government to assist and take care of their needs here.
Commenting on the ban on the media from approaching the families, Ong said this followed a request from the families.
As of yesterday, the number of next-of-kin from overseas who are still here are 21 China nationals; India (six) and New Zealand (one).
Yesterday, the affected families from China moved to the Bangi-Putrajaya Hotel here from Hotel Cyberview because the latter had been booked earlier, in conjunction with the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix to be held from March 28 to 30 at the Sepang Circuit.
The Beijing-bound Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board, disappeared from the radar, about an hour after leaving the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8.
It was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day. — Bernama
