M'sia to deploy two new assets in search for MH370

BEIJING: Datuk Seri Hisham­muddin Hussein said Malaysia will deploy two new assets in the search for the missing Flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

The cost of deploying the additions – the Prosas deep-tow synthetic sonar system and the Remora remotely operated vehicle – would be borne by Petronas and DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech), he said.

On the claim by a US Navy official that the pings detected in the southern Indian Ocean were not from the aircraft’s black box, Hishammuddin said he would leave it to Australia to address the claim as it was its Ocean Shield vessel that picked up the pings.

Hishammuddin, who is Defence Minister and Acting Transport Minister, said the search for MH370 would be based on the tripartite agreement between Malaysia, Australia and China.

He described yesterday’s meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as a major development in the cooperation between Malaysia, China and Australia in the search for the aircraft.

In an interview with CCTV, which was aired yesterday, Hishammuddin said he was still coming to terms with dealing with family members of those onboard the flight.

However, he said Malaysia was in a better position due to the new insights gained.

“Not many countries can coordinate and get everybody to cooperate.

“The support to help us in the new phase is overwhelming. The technology available out there is so sophisticated.

“I also feel that Malaysia, Australia and China are in a position that is pretty unique in the history of mankind,” Hisham-muddin added.