Monday, June 09, 04:00 PM SGT +0800 BRIEFING BY JAILANI JOHARI, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA, CHAIR OF THE LIAISON, COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA COMMITTEE INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT It has been three months since MH370 went missing. As we enter the 14th week of the search operations, we would like to note that the Transition Phase is well underway. On the Malaysian side, led by YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and the four ministerial sub committees, we continue to work closely hand-in-hand, with our counterparts in Australia and China as we face the challenges in the weeks and months ahead. Indeed, this is a concerted effort between our three nations and we stand together in facing this task to find the missing airplane. LIAISON, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA COMMITTEE As mentioned previously by the Acting Minister of Transport, my task as the Chair of the Liaison, Communication and Media Committee is to liaise with Australia and China to further strengthen and solidify the Tripartite Agreement between our three nations. This provides itself as an opportunity to establish strong working relationships and inter-governmental ties between Australia, Malaysia and China, all in the spirit of camaraderie. As directed by YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin, our immediate task is to finalise the arrangements regarding this new phase of the search operations together with our Tripartite partners. In line with Malaysia’s stand in ensuring greater transparency in communicating, we will keep you updated on the progress of these discussions and plans as we go along. TRIP TO CANBERRA & BEIJING Tomorrow, Rahim Bakri, Chair of the Asset Deployment Committee will be leading a team to Canberra to coordinate and finalise the terms and arrangements for Malaysia’s participation in this phase of the search operation. The meeting is primarily aimed at ensuring all parties involved are on the same page. Immediately after, all the four Chairs of the ministerial sub committees led by Hamzah Zainudin will be heading to Beijing to update our Chinese counterparts on the latest efforts at the Tripartite level and Malaysia’s contribution. We would also be discussing with the Chinese leadership on their views and future plans with regards to the MH370 search operation ranging from issues related to the Next of Kins, asset deployment and technical expertise. This team has the mandate from the Malaysian Prime Minister to fully engage with the Chinese government. It must be noted that this trip is a follow up to the recent discussions between the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and China in which both nations have agreed that we remain committed in the search for MH370. NEXT OF KIN COMMITTEE With regards to the Next of Kin committee, we acknowledge Voice370’s request to meet with Malaysia’s Prime Minister, the Acting Transport Minister and the Chair of the Next of Kin Committee. This meeting will be arranged in due time and we look forward to establish a working template in dealing with issues raised by the Next of Kins. We will continue our direct engagement efforts with the Next of Kin primarily in Malaysia and China. On that note, we would also like to praise the Chinese government’s efforts in handling the issues related to the Next of Kins. We give our full assurance to the next of kins, wherever they may be, that we remain fully committed in our search for their loved ones. ASSET DEPLOYMENT COMMITTEE On the asset deployment front, the sub committee has been tasked, in the meeting in Canberra, to coordinate the participation of Malaysia’s assets especially with regards to the Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), consistent with ATSB’s tender process requirements. On a similar note, we will also raise with our Tripartite partners how best to manage and coordinate the deployment of assets that Malaysia has personally requested for from the US and other nation partners. CONCLUDING REMARKS To conclude, we would like to reiterate our commitment to the search operation in this Transition Phase. In this phase, my colleagues and I will strive to give our utmost on behalf of the Malaysian government. Reiterating YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin, “We will continue with the search operations until we have fully covered the search area. We will strive to explore all possible options in finding MH370”. Thank you. - end –
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:36:50 +0000
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