Legal action can be taken against those who spread rumours about missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari has warned.

"The spread of information from suspect and unverified sources will not only cause worry and affect the ongoing investigations, but could also hurt the feelings of families of the (passengers and crew),” Jailani ( right ) said.

"(If rumours) are deemed to have gone overboard and have threatened and slandered others, (those affected) can complain to the authorities, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and legal action will be taken.”

Jailani's warning against the spreading of rumours via the social media was issued during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 while en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, with 239 on board, including 12 crew members.

'Utusan insensitive about MH370'

In a related matter, PKR's Batu MP Tian Chua took Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia to task on a report, saying the daily was “insensitive” to families of those on Flight MH370.

Chua took issue with the report on March 10 that speculated on the possible causes for the disappearance of the aircraft, including a suicide attempt by the pilot.

" Utusan should not make accusations that will hurt the reputation of the pilot and co-pilot," Tian Chua said, noting that the daily should retract the report and apologise.

He also urged the media not to speculate on the incident, but to consider the feelings of the families of the passengers and crew.

Tian Chua urged the government to disseminate information in an orderly manner in light of a number of contradictions by representatives of different government agencies.

For example, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar maintained yesterday that every individual who had booked tickets for Flight MH370 had boarded the plane.

However, Malaysia Airlines later contradicted this, saying four passengers had not shown up for the flight.