MH370: Next-of-kin appreciate high-level team's effort

The next-of-kin of Chinese passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370 have expressed appreciation to the Malaysian Government for despatching a high-level team of officials to Beijing, said Malaysian Ambassador to China, Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.

He said the relatives were satisfied with the explanation provided by the team which divulged the kind of information they had longed for.

"They view the explanation from the high-level team as useful for a better understanding of the overall situation," he said, declining however, to elaborate on the detailed information given by the high-level team.

Iskandar was speaking to Malaysian reporters here on Sunday after a marathon seven-hour briefing by the high-level team to the Chinese family members.

As usual, Iskandar said, the officials answered queries which they could answer. For those which needed further verification, the next-of-kin were requested to submit written questions.

He said the questions raised by the families ranged from technical, radar and security, to the search and rescue operation.

He described the environment of the briefing as "very good" as compared with Saturday's scenario.

On Saturday, the regular briefing turned into chaos when some relatives refused to listen to the update provided by the delegation, prompting the Malaysian representatives, including members of the high-level team and embassy officials to leave the room.

Meanwhile, Wen Wancheng, father of Wen Yongsheng, 33, who was on board the missing plane told reporters here today, that the Malaysian high-level team answered questions raised on the spot.

The briefing, comprising two sessions and attended by some 350 family members began at 9.40am.

One session was to provide regular updates on the missing Boeing 777-200ER aircraft while the other was the Q&A session with the relatives.

The high-level team, led by Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) air operations commander Lieutenant-General Datuk Seri Ackbal Abdul Samad, arrived in Beijing on Thursday night.

The team comprises representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, foreign ministry, RMAF, Department of Civil Aviation and MAS.

It is aimed at briefing the families and next-of-kin of the passengers of Flight MH370, on the latest development surrounding its disappearance.