BEIJING: China’s state-run media on Monday lashed out at Malaysia and its national carrier over their handling of the missing passenger jet, calling for a swifter response effort and tightened airport security.
Nearly two-thirds of the 239 people aboard MH370 were from China, and if the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it would be China’s second-worst air disaster in history.
Investigations have been launched into suspect passengers after officials said two Europeans whose names were on the passenger manifest — who both had their passports stolen in Thailand — were not on board.
“The Malaysian side cannot shirk its responsibilities,” the Global Times newspaper, which is close to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, wrote in a scathing editorial. “The initial response from Malaysia was not swift enough.”
“There are loopholes in the work of Malaysia Airlines and security authorities,” it said.
“If it is due to a deadly mechanical breakdown or pilot error, then Malaysia Airlines should take the blame. If this is a terrorist attack, then the security check at the Kuala Lumpur airport and on the flight is questionable.”
The China Daily newspaper wrote in an editorial that “terrorism cannot be ruled out”, with Malaysian and international authorities still at a loss to explain how at least two passengers were able to board with stolen Italian and Austrian passports.
“Who were they and why were they using false passports?” the paper asked.
“The fact that some of the passengers on board were travelling with false passports should serve as a reminder to the whole world that security can never be too tight, at airports in particular, since terrorism, the evil of the world, is still trying to stain human civilisation with the blood of innocent lives,” it added.
‘Asian features’
In Kuala Lumpur Home Minister Zahid Hamidi said two passengers who used stolen passports to board a Malaysia Airlines plane that went missing with 239 people aboard had “Asian facial features”, according to a report.
“I am still puzzled how come (immigration officers) cannot think: an Italian and Austrian but with Asian facial features,” Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted as saying late Sunday by Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama.
The report did not elaborate. Malaysian officials had earlier said they were examining CCTV images of the passengers.
“We will conduct an internal probe, particularly on the officers who were on duty at the KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) immigration counter during flight MH370,” Zahid said.
Vietnamese searchers late on Sunday spotted debris off their coast but it has not been confirmed whether that was from the missing plane.
Malaysia’s transport minister said Sunday the government was looking into the possibility of a terror incident and was liaising with intelligence agencies of other countries including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
