Malaysia to maintain number of military assets in QZ8501 SAR operation - Hishammuddin

Malaysia will maintain the number of its military assets involved in the AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 search and rescue (SAR) operation until all pieces of the aircraft wreckage and other evidence are found.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said any addition to the assets would be made if there was a request from the Indonesian government.

Among the Malaysian assets involved in the QZ8501 SAR operation are three Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) vessels, namely KD Pahang, KD Lekir and KD Lekiu and a Fennec helicopter, as well as a C-130H Hercules aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Hishammuddin said these Malaysian assets were now assisting the Indonesian authorities trace more evidence in the search areas as fast as possible.

RMN chief, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar had been informed on the government's intention to continue with the SAR operation for this to be relayed to the military personnel involved, he told reporters, here, today.

"However, our continued involvement in this search operation will depend on the agreement of the Indonesian government," Hishammuddin said.

In the Dec 28 tragedy, the Airbus A320-200 plane belonging to AirAsia Indonesia was en route to Changi International Airport in Singapore from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya when it reportedly lost communication with the Jakarta Air Traffic Control Centre while flying over the Java Sea.

The aircraft, carrying 155 passengers and seven crew members, left Surabaya at 5.36am (local time) and was expected to arrive in Singapore at 8.30am (Singapore time).

Of the 155 passengers, 149 were Indonesian nationals, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Briton and one Malaysian.