Hisham orders probe into ruckus at hotel

SEPANG: Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has ordered a probe into a ruckus following an attempt by some so-called family members of the Chinese passengers onboard the missing MH370 plane to storm the daily press briefing.

The group, comprising two women and a man, had arrived at the Sama Sama Hotel here at about 4.40pm yesterday and walked straight into the ballroom an hour before the briefing.

They then proceeded to unfurl a banner in Chinese, accusing the Malaysian Government of hiding the truth and delaying the search and rescue of the passengers.

“Release our loved ones on MH370 back to us unconditionally,” it wrote. It is not immediately known who had brought them to the hotel.

One of the women was also heard wailing repeatedly between sobs: “Please let me know where my son is.”

Policemen, who were alerted of their presence, then escorted the trio out of the auditorium into the media secretariat room.

However, just as the policemen were trying to shield the trio from the cameras, a commotion broke out with members of the media jostling to record the scenes and turning the situation chaotic for almost 10 minutes.

The three of them were escorted to one of the hotel’s meeting rooms shortly after Hishammuddin started his briefing.

Asked about the scene, he said he fully understood what the families of the passengers were going through, admitting that emotions were running high.

Later, expressing his regret over the incident, Hishammuddin appealed for understanding as the investigators were trying their best to track down the plane.

“One can only imagine the anguish they are going through.

“Malaysia is doing everything in its power to find MH370 and hopefully bring some degree of closure for those whose family members are missing.

“I have ordered an immediate inquiry into the events in the press room,” he said in a separate statement.