MCA officials today denied that they had stopped about 20 MH370 next-of-kin from China from entering the party headquarters yesterday to meet with Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

In a statement today, MCA officials said news reports of these next-of-kin being denied entry at MCA's Chinese New Year's open house event were 'false reports'.

"We arranged for them to meet Liow but they refused to enter (the MCA building) because they were afraid of what they termed as 'loss of communication' after entering.

"We also did not prevent them from having a meal during the open house. Instead, food was prepared for them," read the statement.

It added that MH370 next-of-kin from China were 'most welcomed' by MCA, pointing out they had sent a staff to assist after knowing they had gathered at a nearby building.

Since the next-of-kin did not want to enter the building, Liow, who had planned to meet them initially, went off to Malacca for another appointment.

Shortly after this, the next-of-kin entered the Wisma MCA buidling for the open house event and had their meal in the company of MCA staff, said the statement.

Heavy security

It was reported yesterday that 20 MH370 next-of-kin from China who were blocked three times before they were able to enter Wisma MCA at Jalan Amapng in Kuala Lumpur.

Jiang Hui, one of the relatives, told Malaysiakini that they arrived at MCA headquarters at about 10am but was blocked by a group of security guards and policemen. They were stopped at the building next to MCA headquarters, he claimed.

 

The next-of-kin did not understand Malay and hence couldn’t follow the directions given by the police. The next-of-kin were clad in red t-shirts with the words ‘Pray for MH370, come home safe’.

 

Later, an MCA member accompanied them to the MCA building but they were again stopped when they reached the entrance.

In a video sighted by Malaysiakini, over 30 Rela members and policemen formed two layers of human chain to stop the next-of-kin from China from entering the building for the Chinese New Year open house event

 

In the end, the group managed to get into the hall and have their lunch though they failed to meet Liow, who is also MCA president.