Malaysia To Bear Part Of Fugro Supporter's SAR Operation Costs

Malaysia will bear part of the search operation costs for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370, which deployed the Australian owned 'Fugro Supporter' vessel.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Australian government was expected to spend AUD120 million (RM349.6 million) for operating the vessel, which is equipped with sonar equipment to search the sea bed.

"Prior to this, three vessels, namely 'Go Phoenix', 'Fugro Discovery' and 'Fugro Equator' have been deployed in the search for the aircraft.

"In that operation, Petronas has allocated RM67 million for Malaysia to fund the provision of a sonar scan and marine support vessel," he told reporters after presenting aid cheques to 16 welfare organisations, organised by Tunku Abdul Rahman University College's (TAR UC) Civic Consciousness and Volunteerism Project here today.

Liow said the government would continue updating on the latest development of the search operations and providing counselling to family members of the passengers and crew in Malaysia and at the Family Communication and Support Centre (FCSC) in Beijing, China.

"Although the international focus is now on the search and rescue operations of the Air Asia Indonesia flight QZ8501, we remain committed in our efforts to look for flight MH370 which has been lost since March last year," he said.

The search for Flight MH370 is now in its ninth month since it went missing at 2.40 am on March 8 last year.

The flight, which was carrying 12 crew as well as 227 passengers including two babies, disappeared from the radar while enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, about one hour after departing the KL International Airport. It was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 6.30 am the same day.

Meanwhile, Liow said the retrieval of the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder of Flight QZ 8501 would allow the Indonesian authorities identify the cause of the incident and, hence, end all speculations about the unfortunate incident.

"We are aware that the tragedy is a reminder of the importance of upgrading the international flight safety system and civil aviation safety standards.

"Malaysia remains committed in offering any kind of assistance that is needed, whether in the form of assets or expertise, to the Indonesian authorities and have sent three Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) ships to help in the search for QZ 8501," he said.

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) belonging to Flight QZ8501 had been retrieved from the seabed and taken on board the navy ship, Indonesia KRI Banda Aceh, this morning.

The black box was found at coordinates 03" 37.21 S or 109" 42.42 E at a depth of between 30 to 32 metres, near the place where the tail of plane was found in the waters near Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, RM148,730 was raised by about 3,400 students from TAR UC through various activities under the project of 'Civic Consciousness and Volunteerism' for the provision of welfare to the needy.

Liow said as a part of the charity, about 50 students participated in volunteerism to help flood victims in the East Coast states to assist in the cleaning work in schools and public places hit by floods.