PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines met yesterday with representatives from a group of next of kin of Chinese passengers on flight MH370 and said it would respond to their demands over the next few days.
It stressed, however, that the airline could not provide further technical information on the missing plane other than what is already known.
MAS confirmed that its chief executive officer (CEO) Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and members of the management committee met yesterday with three of the 15 family members who arrived from China on Wednesday night.
The family members turned up at the airline’s headquarters in Subang yesterday and spent the morning negotiating for a meeting with the airline’s management to protest against Putrajaya’s declaration that the plane was lost in an accident.
In a statement yesterday, the airline confirmed that it had met three next of kin of passengers on board MH370.
“The three next of kin presented a letter to Malaysia Airlines which the airline will respond with a written reply, as requested by them within the next few days,” the airline said, adding that it has also offered caregiving assistance by Mandarin-speaking staff to the family members.
MAS, however, said it was not in a position to provide further clarification or technical information on the fate of the missing jetliner.
At 12.30pm, the group of 15 next of kin who had gathered outside the MAS building in Complex B near the Subang airport, were persuaded to send a team of three representatives to meet Ahmad Jauhari.
Earlier, they insisted that all 15 as well as the media present be allowed to enter the building to meet the management.
MAS, however, declined to reveal the exact location of the meeting between Ahmad Jauhari and the three, which immediately triggered new concerns from the others outside about their safety.
“They do not trust MAS’ credibility after all the spins and lies we were told back in March last year,” said Kelly Wen, whose husband was on MH370.
“But I will try to advise them to rest and have lunch first. I am equally as concerned as some of them aren’t in good health.”
At 1pm, the families were finally brought to the travel lounge to rest. Several family members were still crying.
MAS senior vice-president of strategic communications Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah then told the media that the airline would deal with “one issue at one time”.
“What’s important now is to focus on the subject matter at hand,” he said.
“We have fulfilled the families’ request to meet with the group CEO of MAS, Ahmad Jauhari.”
The families from China also want MAS to cover their living expenses and accommodation during their stay in Malaysia, but the matter is under discussion.
Najmuddin declined to comment on this request, saying they would “focus on the subject matter at hand first”.
One of the next of kin, retiree Wen Wan Cheng, said MAS should provide solid statistics and evidence to substantiate its declaration that “MH370 was lost in an accident” while calling the airline company “irresponsible”, “inhumane” and “full of lies”.
“Why are you [MAS] bothered about compensation matters, when all we want is the truth?” he asked.
The 15 wore red and white T-shirts with words “Pray for MH370” and held placards that read, “MH370 cry for truth. Today it’s us, tomorrow it could be you” and “MH370: Who can tell us what happened? Please help us! Come back MH370”.
The three who were allowed to meet the MAS management yesterday were retiree Wen, Zhang Jian Yi and Li Yew Hwa. — The Malaysian Insider
This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 13, 2015.