MH370 NO EVIDENCE OF MURDER-SUICIDE
Ex-Aussie PM’s claim of murder-suicide by pilot has yet to be proven, says Hamid
THERE is yet to be any clear evidence on the reason behind the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
Commenting on claims made in an Australian Sky News documentary that the “highest level” of government officials in Malaysia believed that the disappearance was due to a “murder-suicide”, Hamid said this had yet to be proven.
He said the police’s investigation had covered all angles, but it had yet to establish the reason behind the disappearance.
“We have not found the aircraft’s wreckage and we have not found any passenger on board. That’s the problem. We have investigated the matter from all angles, from terrorism, hijacking to the possibility of using sophisticated technology to seize control of the aircraft. There are many theories.
“Plenty of facts have been gathered. If the aircraft is recovered someday, maybe we can reopen the investigation,” he said after an event at the Police Training Centre here yesterday.
He was commenting on claims made by former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott that Malaysian government officials in the “very highest levels” had believed that MH370 was downed in a murder-suicide.
Hamid said he was unable to comment further on the issue until something conclusive had been reached.
“I give him the privilege to speak. He was prime minister at the time. If he wants to share with the media what had been discussed with these Malaysian officials, then that is up to him.
“On behalf of the police, I cannot offer any further comment for as long as the aircraft hasn’t been found. That is the law.
“I also don’t know who the ‘highest level’ officials he is referring to are. But the police and I were involved in the investigation at the time.”
On March 8, 2014, MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China.
A massive search across the Indian Ocean, spanning a radius of 120,000 sq km, including an undersea search, was carried out. The search was suspended in January 2017 when no sign of the plane could be found.
The disappearance has long been the subject of theories, ranging from the credible to outlandish, including the claim that the flight’s veteran pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, had gone rogue.
In an excerpt from the Sky News documentary, Abbott claimed that he was told within a week of the plane’s disappearance that Malaysia believed Zaharie had intentionally downed the jet.
Former transport minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he did not receive any conclusive answer on the cause of MH370’s disappearance until the end of his tenure.
He said the investigation team had explored every lead and possibility regarding the missing aircraft, which included speculations, theories and other relevant information at that time.
He said his priority back then was to be transparent, release corroborated developments and establish what happened.
“Revealing anything that has not been corroborated would have affected the investigations and would be unfair to the families of the passengers on MH370 and the public.
“It would have been an irresponsible and insensitive thing to do. Therefore, I repeat my plea — anyone who has any information on this incident that may assist in the investigation, please provide it to the authorities.”
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the MH370 issue was not discussed during the cabinet meeting yesterday as it was not on the agenda.
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang yesterday urged the “highest levels” of the former Barisan Nasional government to counter Abbott’s allegation.
He suggested an international commission of inquiry be set up over the plane’s disappearance.