The search is still ongoing.
It’s been more than a year, but Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, the Transport Minister of Malaysia, confirmed that the Malaysian government is still not giving up any chances and are putting their best efforts into looking for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. He also assured citizens that the search area has been widen, from the current 60,000sq km to another 60,000sq km.
This promise came as several media reported that the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) would not be continuing the search without any further leads or evidences. Australian officials were also quoted saying the same thing on Wednesday.
During the launch of Malindo Air‘s new in-flight magazine and Wi-Fi service at KLIA 2, Liow said:
There were some news reports that we stopped the search. It is not true. We are committed to continuing the search in the southern Indian Ocean.
However, the Transport Minister did say that the search could be discontinued if no results were reaped by the end of this additional search:
Perhaps there is some miscommunication on the matter, as it has been agreed by the tripartite from Malaysia, Australia and the People’s Republic of China that we would continue another 60,000sq km after the current search area if no leads are found.
Only after the second 60,000sq km is found to be inconclusive we would stop and get the experts back on board to relook at the data.
Back in April, Australia, China, and Malaysia, had come to an agreement to double the search area up to an additional 120,000sq km. The 3 countries reached a decision to extend the search efforts for another year if the plane remained missing.
The JACC is established by the Australian Government in a bid to support the search of the missing flight MH370. However, it is not a standalone organisation as it works closely with the Malaysian government. Based on international law, the search for the missing flight comes under the jurisdiction of the Malaysia government.
