The government's apparent inept handling of the MH370 crisis has become campaign fodder for Pakatan Rakyat, with politicians using it as an example of BN's incompetence.

On the campaign trail last night for the by-election in the Kajang state seat, PKR candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Malaysia's efforts pales to that of other countries which are part of the search-and-rescue mission.

"I visited the home of a passenger on MH370 in the constituency and met her husband and mother. It is sad to see her two young children.

"The jet went missing and the Chinese, who have many citizens on board, have used their satellites to assist, Singapore sent its submarine, while Malaysia calls a bomoh," she said at a ceramah in Taman Muda 1 to titters from the audience.

"This is not the Islamic way... it is not that we have nothing. We, too have submarines."

She, however, neglected to mention the government's clarification that Singapore did not send a submarine but a naval vessel, and that Malaysia's Scorpene submarines are not meant for search-and-rescue missions.

Wan Azizah also ignored the government's denial that it had engaged the bomoh who performed a ritual to 'search' for the missing jet at the airport on Monday.

Kit Siang tempers the message

PAS central committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad also picked up on the issue to say that the government had "embarrassed" the country by its handling of the crisis.

"We all feel sad about this incident but it has also made the country a laughing stock internationally. It is an embarrassment, we are shamed by it," he said.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, however, took a softer stance by saying that questions over the handling of the crisis can be answered later after the aircraft, which has been missing for seven days, is found.

"This is truly something sad and we all still hope that the passengers and crew of MH370 are surviving.

"There are a lot of questions raised over the handling of the crisis and search-and-rescue mission but this should all be pushed aside first as the main concern is to find the plane.

"These questions are important but they must wait until the aircraft is found," he stressed.

Pakatan is not the only one to latch on the crisis which has caught the nation's attention for a week since the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plane disappeared en route Beijing with 239 passengers on March 8.

‘Don’t use MH370 for political mileage’

Yesterday afternoon Wanita Umno attended prayers at the home of the family member of an MH370 passenger and spoke to the media later to express the wing's sympathy and support.

Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil also urged anyone who needs support in this trying times to reach out to the wing as it is always willing to offer a shoulder to cry on.

MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, however, spoke against using the crisis for political mileage, especially to run down the government.

"The missing plane has grabbed the attention of the whole world and focus should be given to humanitarian assistance to families of victims and not to politicise the issue by saying the BN government did nothing.

"We have always prayed for the early finding of the aircraft... MCA has also sent a crisis relief squad to provide counselling to family members of the victims," he was reported by Bernama as saying.

The Kajang by-election in Selangor is a straight fight between BN's Chew Mei Fun against Wan Azizah who is also PKR president. Polling day is on March 23.