No new leads on missing aircraft - Hishammuddin

The search and rescue operation to detect the Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370, which is now in its fourth day, still failed to detect any leads.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said however, efforts would continue to be intensified by widening the search area, as well as with the participation of various quarters, including fishermen.

"The area we want to look for the aircraft is so vast and this makes me realise, it is not an easy task, but we will not give up and I am happy that many have come forward, with the latest from Brunei, participating in the search," he told a media conference after visiting the Air Traffic Control Centre, Department of Civil Aviation, here today.

He said that as of now, the total number of assets deployed in the search and rescue operation had increased to 42 vessels and 35 aircraft, covering areas in the South China Sea and the Straits of Melaka.

Sixteen of the vessels and 14 aircraft are involved in the operation in the Straits of Melaka and the remaining in the South China Sea, he added.

At the same time, Hishammuddin said he welcome the participation of other quarters, like fishermen, in the search for the missing aircraft.

MAS Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12 crew, went missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing about an hour after taking off from the KL International Airport at 12.41am Saturday. It should have landed in Beijing at 6.30am the same day.

The aircraft was carrying passengers of 14 nationalities, with most of them from China and Malaysia.