MH370: Australia spent more than Malaysia on search effort

The Malaysian government has spent RM27.6 million for the search effort of flight MH370 which went missing on March 8 and this figure is only a fraction of what the Australian government had paid for the mission.

About AU$25 million (RM74.9 million) of the allocated AU$90 million (RM269.34 million) by the Australian government will be go to the defence force while AU$60 million (RM179.76 million) will be used for underwater search.

In an article by news portal The Guardian, Australian Treasurer, Joe Hockey said Australia would not avoid paying for it.

"It is understood that the plane went down in waters that are our responsibility, and there is a cost to having responsibility and we don't shirk that.

"We accept responsibility and will pay for it. We're not a country that begs others for money to do our job,” he said.

The allocation of AU$89.9 million (RM269.44 million) is expected to be the most expensive in aviation history, and it is possible that the figure could increase.

Deputy Defence Minister, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri at a media conference at Royale Chulan Hotel on Monday said, Australia was expected to share the cost of the next phase, adding that there were no figures yet for how much would have to be spent.

"The costs will be shared 50-50 between Malaysia and Australia," Abdul Rahim Bakri said.

During a Parliamentary session, Acting Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed that Malaysian government had spent RM27.6 million in fuel and food for equipment and personnel in the search.

"The cost that we had to bear is relatively small compared with the other assets given by other countries used in the search. I am proud that many of our friends have come forward to help in the search, and they bear their own expenses and have not made any claims from us,” he said.

More than three months have passed since the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard.

The Boeing 777 is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, but an extensive search has turned up no sign of wreckage.