MH370: What does the declaration mean?

In my office, there is a whiteboard used to scribble all important announcements of the day. Normally, the messages are kept short and sweet.

This board has become the ‘star’ in our office because my colleagues will dutifully make a quick stop to read the big news of the day before stepping away to their designated work stations. This board pretty much informs the staff what’s the focus for the day or the week.

The whiteboard serves a great purpose and at the risk of sounding petty, I'd say it beats the idea of sending out e-mails, for most of us don’t really check our e-mails as we are constantly out and about on daily assignments or attending meetings.

This board represents the ‘one newsroom’ concept that Astro AWANI practices.

Thursday was an unforgettable day for us here at Astro AWANI. Well, for me at least.



The board read ‘Today is hari D.O.L (Declaration of Loss MH370)’.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw it. What does the declaration mean, I ponder?

And like the rest of the population here in Malaysia, I waited with bated breath for the big announcement of the vanished jetliner.

Together with the rest of my colleagues at AWANI 501, we did our research, prepped ourselves, be on standby for the slightest update that we could get hold of.

Between noon and 3.30pm on Thursday, only one question played in my head: what does it mean, this declaration?

In between, I was monitoring the social websites, checking on updates of families and friends of those affected by this unprecedented, unfortunate event that touched the heart and souls of millions around the globe.

I was shocked to know that they (the family) did not have the slightest clue on this announcement. They were not at all told by any relevant authorities or officials.

They were left in the dark, playing the guessing game like they have been doing ever since the aircraft (presumably) missing on that fateful March 8, last year.

From what I had gathered, what held them together -- at least, for the last 329 days -- was faith, which I believe is slowly fading away now.

It is mind-boggling that the members of the media personnel got the wind of the declaration even before the families of crew members and passengers of flight MH370.

True, that the press need to know so we can do our part to disseminate information, but what about the families? Aren't they the utmost priority here?

As the clock showed 3.30pm, we were glued in front of the idiot box. And to our dismay, the announcement was cancelled at the 11th hour. The announcement turned out to be 'no announcement'.

All of us let out a huge sigh. What does this mean, this declaration?

A million and one questions flashed in our minds until we got a text saying that the announcement would only take place later in the evening.

Good job on perception management, we think to ourselves, sarcastically.

Finally, the DCA Director-General Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman made the announcement, pretty emotionless' whilst reading his text, word by word, with some words I couldn't even fathom, I remember asking myself, what is this declaration all about?

"It is therefore with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow on behalf of the Malaysian government, we officially declare MH370 an accident," he said.

He declared that 239 of the passengers and crew on board MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives, however, the search continues.

Pardon me, so what does this mean, this declaration?

All 239 passengers are now presumed dead, the jumbo plane is now officially ‘lost’ in an accident.

So, why are we still searching? What are we hoping to find when we have officially declared loss and death?

And so we found out that this announcement will open the way for the victims' family members to receive compensation. The last time I checked, family members can proceed with compensation, now that the plane has been missing for almost a year.

I can never imagine the turmoil the family members have to endure and the disappointment the so-called announcement has caused when all they were told was what they already knew.

I have a friend who is the wife of a steward on board that unfortunate flight. Ever since I tried to get her to comment on her woes, on that day the plane went missing,she has not returned or picked up any of my calls.

She did not respond to any of my messages, nor did she reply to my e-mails. I'm assuming that I have crossed the border of respect of a friend who is pain.

I was just doing my job, though I have undying passion over what I do, on that day, I hated myself for doing it, and I am guessing that's the feeling the DG have too.

At this stage I doubt any of us need a scripted comprehensive statement on the investigation that has already been laid out moons ago. We don't need another long track of repetitive points that we can't consume. It's like listening to a broken record of really bad music.

And even if we have to, why do we have to do it now, seeing that Chinese New Year, a time of merriment and nostalgia is just too near? Why can't we wait for a few more days, when we are made to wait for over 300 days to only know nothing new?

Why do we answer questions with more questions? Why do we not learn from anything?

What we need now is answers, the truth and since that seems to be far-fetched for now, then perhaps a little compassion and empathy could at least help to ignite that fading faith.

Yes we need closure but is this declaration the best kind of closure that we can come up with?

So, really what does this mean, this declaration?