APRIL 14 — There is fine line between being sympathetic and cashing in on the misery of others.
It has been over a month since Flight MH370 disappeared from our radars but the actions by certain quarters over the tragedy is distasteful.
First we had our very own FBI (Federal Bomoh of Investigation) and CIA (Coconut Intelligence Agency) representatives making a mockery of themselves and the country after displaying their coconuts and flying carpet antics at the KL International Airport.
Self-declared Raja Bomoh Sedunia Ibrahim Zain’s drollery caught the attention of app makers with reports of more than 40 apps dedicated to his actions.
Among the more famous games include Bomoh: Rescue Run and Bomoh MH370. The latter requires users to rescue 239 passengers and crew to gain more points.
Isn’t this insensitive?
Right after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the plane had “ended” its journey in the Indian Ocean, condolences messages started pouring in.
A particular TV station, while relying a heartfelt message to family members of passengers aboard the plane, went on to invite viewers to tune in to their channel for the latest involving the plane.
A cheap shot to boost ratings?
Next up, we have a paperback titled Flight MH370, The Truth which is due to be released next month.
Published in London and penned by author Nigel Cawthorne, many on social media had already questioned if it was the right move for such a book to be published even before the black box or plane has been located.
Last month, an American firm filed court petitions in the US against Malaysian Airlines and Boeing.
It was reported that Ribbeck Law Chartered International filed the petitions in Illinois blaming the two companies for the “disaster”.
However, last week both petitions filed by the Chicago-based firm were dismissed and the county judge threatened to impose sanctions against the firm if it again filed what the court described as improper, baseless motions.
On Saturday, another US law firm was in town and had apparently organised a meet up session at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur with families of those on board the plane.
While it is unclear if any family members had attended the session, which purpose according to a local newspaper advertisement was to “provide free information to family members of victims” and “to initiate civil action against Boeing and other parties involved”.
Apparently, the law firm is an expert in aviation disasters and claimed their “noble actions” was to help the families.
The move was criticised by the Bar Council as well as other lawyers who said it was illegal for foreign lawyers to provide legal advice in the country.
Lawyer Edmund Bon (@edmundbond) tweeted: “Foreign law firm ambulance chasing? If it is advising on Msian law it is illegal. May also amount to touting.”
It is evident many are trying to cash in on the incident.
We should realise many are still trying to come to terms that they may never see their loved ones again.
They forget there are still those who are holding on to the hopes that their husbands, wives or children are still alive.
There is certainly a fine line between showing that you care and taking advantage of the entire fiasco.
You be the judge.
*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
