Cabinet agreed to resume MH370 search, minister says

Summary

• The cabinet agrees to allow Ocean Infinity to resume MH370 search from January to April next year.

• Transport Minister Anthony Loke says the company proposed to search a new area estimated at 15,000 km2 in the Southern Indian Ocean.

• While company had requested for US$70mil, the cabinet maintains the “no find, no fee” principle.

The cabinet has agreed to accept Ocean Infinity's proposal to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the marine robotics company has proposed to search a new area estimated at 15,000 km2 in the Southern Indian Ocean.

"The proposed new search area, identified by Ocean Infinity, is based on the latest information and data analyses conducted by experts and researchers.

"The company's proposal is credible and merits further examination by the Malaysian government as the state of registration for MH370," Loke said at a press conference at his ministry today.

Currently, the contract is being scrutinised by the Attorney-General's Chambers, adding the search operations will start once the contract has been finalised and signed by all parties, Loke mentioned.

Flight MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared on March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Last month, Loke told the Dewan Rakyat that the government was mulling the proposal as it had not given up hope in locating the aircraft's wreckage.

Same fee request

During the press conference today, Loke said the company had requested the same fee of USD70 million as it did in 2018.

This is based on the “no find, no fee” principle, meaning that the government will not bear any costs if the wreckage is not found, he said.

"And under the new contract, if their team says they have found the wreckage, it has to be verified by our team," Loke said, adding he is making the announcement today as the cabinet decided on Dec 13.

He also mentioned that the search operation will be carried out from January to April 2025.

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