MH370: Govt carrying out detailed discussions with Malaysian commercial entities - Hishammuddin

The government is currently carrying out "detailed discussions" with four Malaysian companies regarding the deployment of specialised assets in the new deepwater search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 aircraft.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the discussions were being carried out with SapuraKencana Petroleum, Petronas, Boustead Holding Berhad and DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (DefTech) for the utilisation of their assets.

The assets included the autonomous unmanned vehicles (AUVs), deep water towed side scan sonars, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and support vessels, Hishammuddin told a media conference on MH370 here Friday.

He said: "It is important for all Malaysian entities involved in this effort to be on the same page working as one team, flying the Malaysian flag to find MH370."

On the international investigation team led by the Department of Civil Aviation's former director-general Datuk Kok Soo Chon, he said the team had commenced investigations on the incident as stipulated by the Terms of Reference laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organistaion (ICAO).

"The investigation team has convened five times so far, and progress will be reported in due course," noted Hishammuddin.

The investigation team comprises representatives from the United States National Transport Safety Board; Britain's Air Accidents Investigations Branch; and, China's Aircraft Accident Investigation Department.

Other members of the team include representatives from France's Land Transport Accident Investigation Bureau, Australia Transport Safety Bureau, aircraft manufacturer Boeing and British satellite communications company, Inmarsat.

On April 23, Malaysia announced the formation of the team aimed at evaluating, investigating and determining the actual cause of the incident to ensure that similar incidents do not recur.

Flight MH370, with 239 passengers and crew on board, left the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later, while over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day.

A multinational search was mounted for the plane, first in the South China Sea and then, after it was learnt that the plane had veered off course, and ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

It has now been 56 days since it went missing, with search operations lasting over seven weeks, thus far.