Malaysians have turned to prayer in search of the best outcome over Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which has been missing since the early hours of March 8while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism is planning a joint prayer ceremony but has not set the time and venue.

Council of Churches of Malaysia general-secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri (left) told The Star yesterday that he encourages all Christians to include prayers for the affected families.

Bernama reported that three Buddhist NGOs visited the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to lend moral support to relatives of those on board the flight.

The Malaysian Buddhist Youth Association's Thai Ming Yeow said the community had been praying non-stop since last Saturday. Fo Guang Shan Malaysia and Singapore and the Buddhist Light International Association were the other two groups.

In Penang, the police organised cross-faith prayers in four places of worship - a church, a Buddhist temple, a surau and a Hindu temple - from 10am to 7.30 pm yesterday. Abdul Malik Kassim, the state exco for Islamic affairs, has encouraged other groups to organise such sessions as well.

The Malay Mail Online reported that residents of two longhouses in Sungai Aup, about 10km from Sibu, Sarawak, have been holding prayer sessions nightly.

In Taiping, about 200 Chinese and Indian youths lit candles, placed these on the floor in the shape of a heart.

Similar events were held in Sungai Petani, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, where candles with paper cranes also being folded.

                        

Flight MH370 was among top trends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Twitter hashtag #PrayforMH370 saw millions post moving messages and tweets were sent by several celebrities, including Sheila Majid, Mary J Blige, Wang Leehom and Ryan Giggs.

Some turned to art to express their feelings. In India, sand artist Sudersan Pattnaik made a sand sculpture at Puri beach, some 65km from Bhubaneswar.

In Kuala Lumpur, the management of the Pavilion mall set up a wall of tribute for people to write down their thoughts and prayers on cards which were strung up. Hundreds have responded.

A drawing of a plane with many colourful hands reaching upwards with the caption ‘Please come back’ has gone viral on Facebook.

Graffiti artists Sirajudin and Eman spray-painted a hand holding a plane on the back gate of the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari with the words :’Return if possible.’