【明報專訊】China: Confusing information updates

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has criticised the Malaysian authorities for their confusing information updates, saying better coordination is necessary. Leader of the Chinese Government's joint work team Guo Shaochun (中國政府聯合工作組組長郭少春) has said, ''Frequent changes of information have put people affected by the incident on an emotional roller-coaster''. He has made specific demands about search and investigation, urging the Malaysian government to release accurate information.

A Xinhua (新華社) commentator has criticised Malaysia for suppressing crucial facts and withholding information.

Vietnam: Full and correct information needed

Vietnam has actively participated in the search. Deputy Minister of Transport of Vietnam Pham Quy Tieu (越南運輸部副部長范貴焦), who leads the sea and air search mission, said members of his team noticed MH370 had a route change the day it lost contact with air traffic control. They had immediately notified Malaysia of it but they had received no reply. He said they had contacted Malaysia twice afterwards but had received no response. He criticised Malaysia for being passive.

On March 15 Vietnam declared a halt to all search activities, pending information from Malaysia.

Aviation expert: Malaysia has no legal power to direct the search

According to Reuters, because Malaysia has no power to conduct a formal air safety investigation, the search for the plane has been hindered. Some aviation experts say Malaysia lacks the legal powers that would come with a formal international probe according to United Nations-sanctioned rules. They include the power to take testimony from all witnesses and other parties, the power to have exclusive control over the release of information and the power to centralise a vast amount of fragmentary evidence.

Shukor Yusof, an aviation industry analyst with Standard & Poors Capital IQ, has said it is a tough task for Malaysian officials to handle such an incident because they have no such experience. However, they seem too arrogant to offer an apology. Clearly, those officials lack communication skills.

Malaysian media and netizens: Distrustful and critical

In an article on Malaysian Insider, a news website, netizens' comments are quoted. A netizen thinks ''Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government are trying to cover up facts of the disappearance of flight MH370.'' The article says the embarrassment was compounded by a report aired in an Australian news programme of a past cockpit security breach involving the co-pilot on the missing jet.