Indonesian Embassy offers to channel info on missing plane

Indonesia Ambassador to Malaysia, Herman Prayitno said the embassy would help put them in contact with AirAsia, if family members of the passenger got in touch with the embassy.

"Hopefully, AirAsia has managed to contact the family of the Malaysian passenger," he told Bernama when contacted Monday.

The national news agency yesterday reported that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak confirmed that Sii Chung Huei, the only Malaysian on board the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501, is the husband of Assoc Prof Annie Wong Muk Ngiik.

Herman said crisis centres were provided at Surabaya airport, Jakarta and in Singapore because the aircraft was on a flight from Surabaya to Singapore.

He thanked the Malaysian government which had sent three Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) ships on Sunday to join in the search and rescue (SAR) operation which would be coordinated with the Indonesian SAR.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had contacted Indonesian president Joko Widodo and expressed his concern at the incident.

Earlier, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein talked with his Indonesian counterpart, Ryamizard Ryacudu.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai also said full cooperation would be given to Indonesia in the SAR.

Herman said other than Malaysia, Indonesia also received aid from Singapore and Australia.

News reports said the United States, Britain, South Korea and India have also offered help ranging from planes and navy ships to experts and investigators.

Flight QZ8501, with 162 people on board, took off at 5.20am in Surabaya, Indonesia on Sunday, and was scheduled to land at Singapore’s Changi Airport at 8.30am.

It last contacted the Air Traffic Control at 6.12am Indonesian time (7.12am Malaysian time).