KUALA LUMPUR: As the search and rescue mission for the missing MH370 enters into its fifth day, the relatives of passengers on board are pressing the Malaysian authorities to be more forthcoming in providing the latest information, rather than pacify them with money.
China ambassador to Malaysia Huang Hui Kang said: “We appreciate the Malaysian Airlines cash aid, but it seems to me the top priority now is to carry out the emergency rescue mission.
“ I think what relatives of the passengers need the most is accurate and latest information on the missing flight.”
“All information regarding the missing flight should go up fast and complete,” he said at a press conference after paying a courtesy visit to Dewan Negara speaker Abu Zahar Ujang.
International news agencies yesterday reported that Malaysia Airlines’ offer of 31,000 yuan (around RM16,000) to family of each missing passenger was roundly rejected.
A relative reportedly said: “we are not interested in the money. It’s all about the people – the people on the plane”.
Ignatius Ong, who is heading the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) response team in China, confirmed that the offer had not been taken up, but said the airlines would review the compensation terms.
MH370, which which went missing at about 1.30 am last Saturday, had 152 Chinese nationals among its 227 passengers.
Relatives have complained on the lack of information from MAS and criticised the Malaysian government for its slow response to the incident.
They were forced to endure days of anxious waiting, with some flying into Kuala Lumpur in hope that they can obtain latest updates here.
Nevertheless Huang was quick to say that the incident will not have any negative effect on the bilateral relations between Malaysia and China.
He said Chinese government appreciates the efforts made by Malaysian authorities and reiterated that they would stand “shoulder by shoulder and work side by side”.
Meanwhile he also said that the Chinese government has deployed 10 satellites to partake in the search operations.
“Our top priority is to intensify efforts and enlarge the scope of search,” he said.
