MH370: Singapore to assist Malaysia based on Silk Air experience

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that Singapore will work together with Malaysia in the search and recovery operation to find the missing flight MH370.

The decision was made during the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpark Lee Hsien Loong today.

“There were new information and offer of cooperation with regards to what Singapore went through with Silk Air flight MI185.

“They had no hesitation and didn’t talk about dollars and cents when looking for the aircraft,” said Hishammuddin during a press conference held at The Royale Chulan this evening.

SilkAir Flight flight MI185 was en route to Singapore from Jakarta, Indonesia when it crashed into the Musi River near Palembang in southern Sumatra, Indonesia in 1997. It killed all 97 passengers and 7 crew members on board.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin added that the new developments over the last few hours have been the most promising leads to find the missing aircraft and urged Malaysians and the international community not to give up hope.

“I would strongly urge all the parties concerned to treat this information responsibly and to give time and space for the authorities to conduct further verification.

Malaysia also concured with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott who said that all parties must be cautious on unconfirmed findings, he added.

Earlier today, the Australian defence vessel, Ocean Shield had detected two signals that were consistent with those emitted by aircraft black boxes.

Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) head Angus Houston said the first pinger signal lasted for two hours 20 minutes, while the second one lasted for thirteen minutes.

"This is very encouraging information which unfolded in the last 24 hours. This is the most promising lead and in the search so far it is probably the best information that we have so far," he told a press conference in Perth.