Hishammuddin (left) speaks at the joint press conference as Liow looks on. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein is committed to continue cooperating and assisting the newly-appointed Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in ensuring smooth running of the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Hishammuddin, who had served as Acting Transport Minister over the past year, said: “We have divided our responsibilities evenly.
“I will continue assisting and ensuring that the ties I have established with leaders of the countries involved will be maintained until Liow is comfortable to take the lead.
“If he needs me to attend any press conferences to answer issues that concerned me, I’ll be glad to do it,” he told a joint conference with Liow after the handing-over of duties ceremony here yesterday.
Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the appointment of three new ministers and three deputy ministers from MCA and Gerakan, with Liow as the new Transport Minister.
Hishammuddin said he and Liow would also be briefed about the latest development from four Cabinet committees related to MH370, namely the Passengers’ Next of Kin Committee, Technical Committee, Asset Movement Committee as well as the Liaison, Communication and Media Committee, in Parliament today.
He also said that they would ensure seamless transition into the new phase of search.
“I will be introducing Liow to all the relevant authorities and stakeholders in China and Australia in order to ensure his smooth transition into the role,” he added.
Besides sharing his experience, Hishammuddin said many issues had also been discussed during his meeting with Liow, including the challenges faced by the Transport Ministry and in the search of MH370.
“I’m glad the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will be helmed by a full minister. I leave MOT in good hand,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liow said he would meet with foreign leaders involved in the search for MH370 to ensure that case could be solved completely.
“I need some time to settle down in this ministry…especially on MH370… to go through the details, we also need to listen to some of the committee reports and to meet with some ministers from Australia and China in ensuring the search of MH370 will be successful.
“I will go to Australia soon to meet Joint Agency Coordination Centre chief Air Chief Marshal (Rtd) Angus Houston to get the latest details from him,” he said.
On the report that the passengers and crew of the missing MH370 most likely died from suffocation and coasted lifelessly into the Southern Indian Ocean on autopilot, Hishammuddin said it had yet to be verified by experts.
“Whatever it is, I will only comment when it has been verified by experts and agreed in tripartite discussions,” he said.
In the 55-page report released recently, the Australian Transport Safety Board had suggested that all passengers and crew on board the plane died of suffocation.
Such a conclusion was reached after comparing the conditions on the flight with previous disasters, although it contained no new evidence from within the jetliner. — Bernama