Funding not an issue in MH370 search, but credible evidence necessary: Liow

KUALA LUMPUR: Funding has never been an issue for the government in finding the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pix).
However, he said credible evidence is needed before the search team could be given the green light to conduct its work in a new search area.
He said the new 25,000km² search area, north of the initial underwater search zone, proposed by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) need to be studied thoroughly before the search team could enter the zone and look for the missing plane.
"So far, the expert team have given us 25,000km² search area with 85% probability. They are saying that they want to have more study to look into satellite images and debris pattern," he said.
"We have to be more sure. Remember the first time we completed 60,000kmý search, then they asked us to go for another 60,000² ... They had said they were 99% sure.
"After completing the 120km² area, they said that they are 99% sure (the plane) not in the area ... Funding has never been the issue but we have to be more sure and (need) more credible (evidence)," he told reporters after attending a MH370 remembrance event at Publika here.
The Tripartite Joint Communique – comprising of Malaysia, China and Australia – on Jan 17 announced the suspension of the multi-national search effort after more than two years of relentless effort combing the seabed in the southern Indian Ocean to find the ill-fated plane.
MH370 was on a flight path to China when it went off radar on March 8, 2014, leaving a big question mark on the fate of 239 passengers and crew members on board.
Liow also said three plane debris found along the coast of Africa has been confirmed belonging to MH370, out of the total 27 debris recovered.
He added the government would also grant the wish of the next-of-kin to view the debris currently in Malaysia's possession.
Liow earlier in his speech said a special session to commemorate the third year of MH370 tragedy would be held in Parliament on March 8.
"A ministrial statement would be read out in Parliament on March 8 and a special session would be held to remember the tragedy of MH370," he said.