Malaysian official blames Chinese media for MH370 families' anger

By Joe McGee, March 27, 2014

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Malaysia's home minister has accused Chinese media of "stoking the anger" felt by the families of MH370 passengers as they continue to clash with Malaysia's government over its handling of the issue.

"The prime minister and acting transport minister have tried their best to resolve this but, unfortunately, the papers have manipulated this and played up the sentiments until the families, especially those from Beijing, are upset," Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. "[MH370’s crash] is an accident which no one wants to see happen."

Zahid did not specifically name any publications or headlines that he felt had negatively encouraged tensions.

On Monday, several hundred distraught family members of MH370’s 157 Chinese passengers angrily protested outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing. Forming a human wall in front of unarmed police, they shouted slogans, calling the Malaysian government “liars” and “murderers”.

Many relatives believe that the government have always been aware what happened to the plane, but has systematically covered up evidence relating to the flight’s fate.

The Chinese government also requested that Malaysia release all of its evidence from satellite data that led to the conclusion that flight MH370 crashed into the southern Indian Ocean.

Ahmad Zahid stated that he would not hesitate to reprimand media or those in social media who try to fuel the fire. "Don't blame me if I take action," he added.

The news comes as a further 122 objects in the ocean have been identified by satellites as possible wreckage from the aircraft. Search planes and ships from six different countries are taking part in the rescue effort, scouring a search area in a remote part of the ocean 2,500 km (1,500 miles) from Perth.

Investigators are now probing what led the plane to divert its course and most likely crash into the Indian Ocean, as theories surface questioning whether the plane was on auto-pilot or it was deliberately flown off course.

[Image via Asia News Network]

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