Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines’s MH370.
This means, over 20 countries, from Malaysia to Australia to France have been involved in a highly expensive search effort for two years now.
The last substantial news from the search operation was in July 2015, when a piece from a Boeing 777 was found on the shores of the French Reunion Island. It was later confirmed by investigators to be the flaperon of MH370.
The world is looking for answers. Malaysians are looking for answers and we will not give up because this is a question of national security as much as it is a matter of grave concern for the families of the victims.
Why national security? Because if we do not deal with the root cause of the problem, there will be future recurrences.
The Najib Razak administration has refused to answer any questions
The Opposition have raised many questions about MH370 in and outside Parliament. Yet, from the first day, the government has refused to provide any substantial information.
My parliamentary question in June 2014 on the important subject of military negligence for not taking action despite detecting MH370 on a rogue path, was rejected on the pretext of it being a “secret” (perkara rahsia):
I have repeatedly called for a parliamentary select committee to be set-up with the view to publish a White Paper on this landmark aviation crisis affecting not just Malaysia and Malaysians but which carry global implications. Yet this was rejected with a wall of silence from the government for the last two years.
I have called for the publication of the results by all authorities involved in the investigation – including the Department of Civil Aviation, the military, the police as well as the Joint Investigation Team. Other than the Interim Report published ONE year after the incident, we have no other official reports released to the public.
Especially of concern is the police investigation notably on pilot Captain Zaharie Shah, given that he has been implicated on numerous occasions as “chief suspect” by the police. The government must provide clear answers to these serious allegations so as to clear the name of the pilot and his family, in the event he is innocent.
One year after Interim Report – what’s next?
On the so-called Interim Report, it is clear that investigators have found many shortcomings, instances of non-compliance and weaknesses in our national airline, our aviation authority and our military.
There was even a breach of international protocol by Ho Chih Min, under the terms stipulated by the Operational Letter of Agreement between the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia and Vietnam Air Traffic Management.
One year has passed since the Interim Report. What has been done to address the various instances of non-compliance and negligence highlighted? No one has furnished us with the truth, even after our repeated questioning.
Risk of MH370 looming large with so many unanswered questions
The scary part is, no one knows if these problems have been resolved. This means all of us are flying daily with the shadow of MH370 looming over us, not knowing if our flight will be the next “MH370.”
The world demands answers. Malaysians demand answers. Hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money have gone into the investigation, and yet, the Najib administration seems to be zealously guarding its reports and results. Malaysians, especially families of MH370 passengers and crew and the world at large deserved to know the answer now.
My prayers and thoughts are with the victims of MH370 and their families.
Steven Sim Chee Keong is MP for Bukit Mertajam.
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