MH370 families demand Hishammuddin step down over blunders

KUALA LUMPUR — The families of flight MH370 passengers and crew have derided Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s weak defence of military inaction during the early hours of the plane’s disappearance, and in a show of anger some have even demanded that he step down as the acting Transport Minister.

Mr Hishammuddin told the Australian Broadcasting in an interview aired on Monday (May 19) that the Malaysian military had been told to keep an eye on the plane but allowed it to disappear off their radar after considering it to be not hostile.

His statements have drawn much flak from the families of those on board the ill-fated jetliner, who said he has only fuelled more questions instead of providing answers to the incident.

They also said the statements by Mr Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, smacked of incompetence and that more honest people should be allowed to lead the investigation into the aircraft’s disappearance, instead of covering up the military’s and the government’s flaws.

Indian national Pralhad Shirsath whose wife was a passenger on the plane, questioned how the plane was allowed to pass through Malaysian airspace without any action taken, when the military knew that MH370 was missing or in trouble.

He said the minister’s statement only showed that it was part of “a plan” to make the plane disappear with some purpose.

“Mr Transport Minister said, ‘If you’re not going to shoot it down, what’s the point of sending it up?’”

“Well, he should understand that sending up military planes does not always mean shooting it down, but rather investigating risk and taking action when it was already identified as a commercial jet and not hostile but travelling through Malaysian territory without authorisation in terms of giving feedback to those to whom the plane belongs,” Mr Shirsath told The Malaysian Insider when contacted.

Mr Shirsath believed that the latest revelation only proved that the Malaysian government was hiding more information from the families and the public.

“If they have reason to hide information, they should tell us and probably we will try to understand them,” he said.

Mr Shirsath also said Malaysia’s image has been dented by the way the government has dealt with the tragedy. He was puzzled as how the people who ruled the country and those in charge of the search and rescue operation managed to remain in power.

“How can Malaysian people tolerate these blunders? These leaders must step down and more honest people should lead the investigation,” he said.

“It is not too late, they should tell us all truth, stop misguiding the media and families and make sure passengers and crew return to their homes safely and we will forgive them,” he added.

Ms Sarah Bajc, the partner of passenger Philip Wood, echoed Mr Shirsath’s sentiment, saying it is both absurd and perilous for any civilian or military flight observer to disregard an unidentified plane.

“I believe the Malaysian people and the investigation into MH370 would be well served by Hishammuddin’s resignation. My guess is that most feel that way but I would not presume to speak for others,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Syafinaz Hasnan, the sister of M370 crew Mohd Hazrin, described Hishammuddin’s statements as insensitive.

“I am saddened by the way the government has dealt with the military issue. They are also very confused with their own twisted information. Now everyone knows how incompetent they are and how vulnerable our country can be,” she said.

Mr KS Narendran, husband of Chandrika Sharma, one of the five Indian nationals on board MH370, found the minister’s stance and the defence “outrageous”.

He said what occured showed total neglect and incompetence on the part of the various authorities in handling the incident, and urged Hishammuddin to stop defending the indefensible by covering up military flaws.

He also said the public was not easily taken in, regardless of whether Hishammuddin had appeared sombre or savvy, contrite or confident, collaborative or combative on television.

The Malaysian authorities have been severely criticised over their handling of the investigations into the missing jetliner with the international media, family members of passengers and crew, with the public accusing them of hiding and delaying information.

A survey commissioned by The Malaysian Insider last month showed that more than half of Malaysians polled believed that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had been hiding information about flight MH370’s disappearance. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER