The Malaysian Government has been accused of deceit and abuse of trust after authorities finally confirmed what we already know – they are not interested in finding MH370.
In an email response to this website’s story that the search was stalled, Lt Col Muhammad Amir bin Abdullah RMAF from Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) at Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport told Swiss website Watson that “the signing of a contract with Ocean Infinity has been temporarily postponed as the agreement is still undergoing final review.”
We remind readers that this no-find no-fee contract from Ocean Infinity was agreed in December and has sat in a lawyer’s office for the last eight weeks and nothing has been done.
In his email the Lt Col claims “that as formerly announced, the formalization of the agreement between the Government of Malaysia and Ocean Infinity was initially scheduled for mid-February 2025”
In fact according to debris hunter Blaine Gibson, Transport Minister Loke said that the contract would be finalized early January.
However, this process has been temporarily postponed, as the agreement is still undergoing final review by the Attorney General’s Office says Lt Col Abdullah.
He adds that “while the financial aspects are a significant consideration, the Malaysian government is also evaluating several other critical factors” but does elaborate on what those critical factors are.
But given the military’s performance in trying to take over the 2018 search in Fremantle I am certain it is the control of what information and images are released is the issue. My sense is no images of the cockpit area that might show who was in control of the aircraft.
In a response to the email from Lt Col Abdullah, KS Narendran, (Naren) who lost his wife in the tragedy posted on Richard’s Godfrey’s website that the Malaysian Government has not been sincere.
He accuses the government of deceit and an abuse of trust.
“When the government does not conclude a search agreement within a reasonable time frame after announcing its intent to resume the search, and remains silent, it just feels like bad faith/deceit and abuse of trust. This is unacceptable. NOKs are rebuilding their lives while learning to live with ‘not knowing’. The struggle to keep the focus on the search for the plane and answers takes its toll.”
In the email to Richard Godfrey’s website he adds: “Malaysia assumed leadership of the search but was unwilling to be accountable and do whatever was necessary. It has over the years not been proactive, and has mostly acted only when media/public/NOK attention and clamor to keep the search alive was intense.”
“It has appeared for many years now that MH370 is a closed chapter for the Malaysian Government but it has been reluctant to say so for fear of adverse reaction.
“A solemn duty to sponsor and search for ‘credible new evidence’ was never owned up by the Govt. Further, the responsibility to lead and conduct search has been treated as an optional choice to be exercised if and when some search party came up with an offer that appealed to it.
“To assuage (AU SWAGE) NOK and keep them at bay, authorities periodically issue statements of concern for closure.
Naren goes on: “I believe it is the unrelenting pressure from scientists, academics and public spirited individuals, who put forward their expertise, perspectives and safety concerns that will make the difference. It would have been great if the global civil aviation ecosystem were more vocal in pushing for answers but that is perhaps asking for too much. For much of the world it is ‘business as usual’.
“Thank you, Richard Godfrey for your persistence, for anchoring this space, and in not giving up dealing with critics. I am no scientist or technologist and can’t possibly make a substantive contribution here. I feel encouraged visiting here once in a while, reading posts and seeing how immersed people are.”
