Search for MH370 to Continue, Says Malaysian Transport Minister

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Dec 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Cabinet, at its meeting on Dec 13, has in principle accepted an offer by a marine robotics company, Ocean Infinity, to continue the search for the MH370 wreckage, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

He said the seabed search operation would focus on a new location about 15,000 square kilometres in the southern Indian Ocean.

"The location of the new search area proposed by Ocean Infinity is based on the latest information and data analysis made by experts and researchers.

“It is a solid proposal and deserves to be examined by the Malaysian government as the country of registration of the MH370 aircraft," he told a press conference here Friday.

Loke said the search operation will be carried out by Ocean Infinity based on the principle of 'no find, no fee', which means the government does not have to pay any fee if the wreckage is not found.

He said the Transport Ministry is currently finalising the terms and conditions of the agreement with the United Kingdom-based company and the process is expected to be completed early next year.

Elaborating, he said the MOT was also informed that the appropriate time to carry out the search work in the area is between January and April, thus the need to expedite the agreement with Ocean Infinity.

Loke said the decision by the government to accept the offer by Ocean Infinity to resume the search for the MH370 flight is a manifestation of the government's commitment to ensuring that the search operation continues and provides closure for the next of kin of the MH370 passengers.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 carrying 239 passengers disappeared while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China on March 8, 2014.

-- BERNAMA