UNDI RINGGIT KUATKUASAKAN HALAL

March 18, 2014 at 9:53am

Rencana terbitan SINAR HARIAN dalam kolum “KHALIFAH BISNES’ bertarikh 17 Mac 2014.

Selama dua minggu berturut-turut kolum Khalifah Bisnes fokus kepada isu meningkatkan urusan penguatkuasaan halal.  Dua strategi baru dicadangkan untuk pertimbangan penguasa halal Malaysia.  Pertama, mendapatkan kerjasama syarikat korporat menubuhkan jabatan audit halal di peringkat syarikat masing-masing di bawah seliaan Jakim atau penguasa halal negeri. Dan kedua, pembentukan profesion audit halal swasta di bawah kelolaan HDC dengan memenuhi semua syarat dan kriteria yang ditetapkan pihak berkuasa halal negara dan negeri.

Kedua-dua pembaharuan strategi ini memerlukan dokongan undang-undang sebelum boleh dijayakan sepenuhnya.   Tujuannya ialah mengatasi kelemahan upaya di peringkat penguasa halal dengan menggunakan strategi atau kaedah yang tidak menambah kepada beban kewangan kerajaan.  Minggu ini kolum Khalifah Bisnes fokus kepada kaedah bagaimana pengguna Muslim boleh bersama bertindak menegakkan halal supaya tidak dipandang ringan atau diremehkan oleh golongan pekedai atau syarikat penjual tidak bertanggungjawab. 

Halal terlalu mudah dikompromi

Setelah saya menulis mengenai isu halal, beberapa sahabat menceritakan pengalaman masing-masing mengenai taraf halal sengaja dikompromi oleh golongan peniaga.  Salah satu yang menarik perhatian ialah bagaimana sebuah restoran milik bukan Muslim di Kuala Lumpur mengguna strategi menipu cara “kreatif” untuk mengatasi kelemahan bersaing tanpa sijil halal. 

Dilaporkan, restoran milik non-Muslim terbabit kalah bersaing dengan restoran di tempat sama milik operator Muslim yang jelas berjaya menarik minat pembeli kerana memiliki sijil halal yang sah.  Apa yang dilakukan kemudian oleh pemilik non-Muslim ini ialah menukar nama restorannya dan meletakkan ayat Basmallah di depan muka kedainya.  Sahabat saya memerhatikan semua pekerja lamanya yang terdiri daripada bukan Muslim dikekalkan.  Setelah itu, perniagaannya dilihat mendapat sambutan orang ramai, termasuk pengguna Muslim!   

Dalam kes ini, jelas sekali terdapat tindakan mengaburi mata pelanggan Muslim bertujuan melariskan langganan.  Tidak hairan jika ini mudah dilakukan oleh peniaga dan ahli bisnes tidak bertanggungjawab bertujuan mengambil kesempatan daripada kelemahan di peringkat penguatkuasaan halal.

Saya yakin banyak contoh lain cara helah atau tipu daya digunakan untuk mengaburi mata pengguna Muslim.  Dalam kolum sebelum ini pun telah saya sebutkan terdapatnya premis restoran mempamir dan menggunakan logo halal keluaran badan halal antarabangsa yang bukan autoriti halal tempatan.   Semua ini mudah terbiar berleluasa selagi pihak penguasa halal terhad keupayaan menguatkuasa dan pengguna Muslim pula tidak memandang berat untuk bertindak menentangnya.

Tiba masanya pengguna Muslim Malaysia menyedari hak mereka dan melihat halal sebagai satu hak asasi yang tidak wajar sama sekali dikompromi oleh sesiapa, terutama oleh penjual atau pemilik premis niaga rakus.  Pengguna Muslim juga tidak harus hanya mengharapkan penguasa halal mengambil tindakan memperbaiki semua bentuk pelanggaran syarat halal tanpa bertindak sendiri mengatasinya.  Di bawah sistem pasaran bebas, sewajarnya mereka sedar bahawa kuasa mutlak sebenarnya ada pada tangan mereka sebagai pengguna dan mereka tidak perlu hanya menantikan atau menharapkan tindakan pihak berkuasa.     

Sesungguhnya pengguna dan pembeli mempunyai tanggungjawab bersama untuk bertindak mengatasi kompromi halal oleh penjual yang langsung tidak mahu menghormati hak asasi pengguna Muslim tentang halal-haram.   Pengguna Muslim harus sedar pada tangan mereka terdapat kuasa atau “power” penguatkuasaan paling berkesan.  Kuasa atau “power” yang saya maksudkan ialah kuasa “undi ringgit” di tangan setiap pengguna dan pembeli. 

Perhatikan, “undi ringgit” seumpama undi politik yang boleh membawa perubahan kuasa pemerintahan politik.  “Undi ringgit” boleh digunakan untuk membawa perubahan ekonomi, terutama dalam memperbaiki sikap negatif penjual terhadap isu yang pengguna utamakan seperti halal-haram.   Secara kolektif, apabila dihimpunkan setiap ringgit yang dibelanjakan oleh pembeli dan pengguna ia merupakan himpunan kuasa ekonomi yang kuat untuk diguna dan ditujukan ke arah melindungi hak asasi dan kepentingan kelompok pengguna. 

Bina organisasi pengguna halal

Salah satu kaedah menggunakan kuasa undi ringgit dengan berkesan ialah dengan membeli secara berkumpulan atau “group buying”.  Pembelian berkumpulan banyak diamalkan di negara maju, juga kebelakangan ini dengan berkesan sekali di negara Republik Rakyat China, bertujuan membina organisasi pengguna secara kolektif lagi berkesan.   

Kaedah pembelian berkumpulan menghimpun kuasa ramai pembeli untuk mendapat diskaun harga menjimatkan perbelanjaan pengguna.  Kaedah ini, yang dipanggil “tuangou” oleh pembeli China berjaya membawa penjimatan besar setelah pengguna bersepakat untuk terlebih dahulu berunding harga diskaun dengan pihak penjual runcit atas dasar pembelian berkuantiti besar sebagai kumpulan.

Penggunaan komputer dan sesawang website memudahkan proses menghimpun jumlah besar pembeli, sekali pun dalam kumpulan yang tidak kenal-mengenali antara satu dengan lain.   Saya yakin kaedah sama boleh digunakan dengan berkesan oleh pembeli Melayu-Muslim, bukan sahaja untuk mendapat diskaun harga, malahan juga untuk mempastikan jaminan taraf halal sesuatu produk atau khidmat di pasaran.

Saya juga berpendapat kaedah menghimpun kuasa pembelian berkumpulan atau group buying ini boleh dikelolakan oleh organisasi seperti Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia.  Selain itu, saya yakin di sini terdapat peluang bisnes untuk dikendalikan usahawan muda Muslim yang pandai IT memangkin himpunan pembeli untuk group buying.   

Selain menjadikannya satu kaedah bisnes untuk mendapat untung, usahawan IT Melayu terbabit dapat juga menyempurnakan fardu kifayah dalam menentukan hak asasi halal pengguna Muslim sentiasa terjaga dan tidak dikompromi.

Di negara China didapati website pembelian berkumpulan semakin popular dan kini menjadi antara pemain utama dalam bisnes penjual-belian atas talian atau online shopping.   Website seperti ini umumnya menawarkan “tawaran istimewa harian” atau “deal of the day”.   

Tawaran ini memberi peluang mendapat diskaun besar sebaik sahaja sejumlah minima pembeli didapati menerusi website, melayakkan semua pembeli menikmati diskaun yang dipersetujui terlebih awal bersama pihak peruncit atau retailer, termasuk di gedung-gedung besar.  Diskaun diperoleh menerusi baucer yang turut dikeluarkan menerusi website.  

“Buai laju-laju …”

Dalam kalangan masyarakat peniaga dan ahli bisnes canggih seperti di Amerika, kini terdapat organisasi memanfaatkan kaedah pembelian berkumpulan untuk faedah bisnes. Organisasi dipanggil “Group Purchasing Organisation” atau “GPO” semakin aktif setelah masyarakat peniaga dan PKS mendapati ia bermanfaat dan dapat menjimatkan kos besar. 

Bayangkan andainya semua restoran milik Melayu-Muslim dapat bersepakat menggunakan kaedah GPO.  Bukan sahaja mereka boleh mendapatkan manfaat penjimatan pembelian besar-besaran segala barangan kegunaan harian, malahan mereka sekaligus akan dapat menggunakan kuasa membeli untuk menentukan pembekal tidak bertolak ansur dalam menjamin hak asasi pengguna Muslim tentang halal-haram produk atau khidmat yang diniagakan.

Kesimpulannya, tiba masanya masyarakat pengguna dan juga masyarakat peniaga dan PKS Melayu-Muslim menggunakan kuasa “undi ringgit” yang ada pada mereka untuk manfaat penjimatan, selain menjamin manfaat halal, secara tersusun dan berorganisasi.   Lebih-lebih lagi kesempatan harus diambil oleh usahawan muda Melayu-Muslim bijak IT membina website komersil membolehkan sistem pembelian berkelompok atau GPO dikendalikan online dan dipopularkan dalam kalangan masyarakat, termasuk untuk manfaat bisnes.   

Tiba masanya juga pembeli dan pengguna Muslim bina persepakatan dalam semua urusan, memanfaatkan himpunan kuasa membeli antara mereka.   Perhatikan, inilah juga satu cara pengguna dan pembeli Melayu-Muslim akhirnya dapat memenuhi salah satu seruan Islam terhadap harta kekayaan: Iaitu, supaya harta kekayaan tidak dibiarkan berputar hanya di kalangan orang kaya sahaja dalam masyarakat. 

Tegasnya, sudah tiba masanya bangsa Melayu dan umat Islam Malaysia mengubah maksud pantun Melayu lama: “Buai laju-laju, sampai pokok sena, beli baju baru dari kedai sana…”    Cabaran hidup di abad ke 21 dan alaf baru menuntut pembeli dan pengguna Melayu-Muslim menggantikan pokok pantun sejarah budaya mereka kepada pembaharuan berikut: “Buai laju-laju sampai dekat pokok nangka; bila Melayu maju, wakaf, zakat perkasakan bangsa!”

Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim Presiden

Dewan Perdagangan Islam Malaysia (DPIM)

ali.bizjihad@yahoo.com                                                                                                                                                                    

Press Conference on MH370 28 Mac 2014

MH370 PRESS BRIEFING BY HISHAMMUDDIN HUSSEIN,

MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND ACTING MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

28 MARCH 2014, 5:30PM

Introductory statement 

Today, the search for MH370 has been further refined. The international investigation team continue working to narrow the search area, and shed further light on MH370’s flight path.

We are, as always, grateful for the continuing co-operation of our partners in this difficult and intensive search.
Whilst search operations are on-going, we continue to focus our efforts on caring for the families. In Cabinet this morning, we discussed the importance of continuing to support the relatives of the passengers and crew.

Refined search area

On Monday, the Prime Minister announced that based on new data analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB had concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.

On Tuesday, I confirmed that further study of this data would be undertaken to attempt to determine the final position of the aircraft. The Malaysian investigation team set up an international working group, comprising agencies with expertise in satellite communications and aircraft performance, to take this work forward.

The international working group included representatives from the UK, namely Inmarsat, AAIB, and Rolls Royce; from China, namely the CAAC and AAID; from the US, namely the NTSB, FAA, and Boeing; as well as the relevant Malaysian authorities.

The group has been working to refine the Inmarsat data, and to analyse it – together with other information, including radar data and aircraft performance assumptions – to narrow the search area.

Information which had already been examined by the investigation was re-examined in light of new evidence drawn from the Inmarsat data analysis.

In addition, international partners – who continue to process data in their home countries, as well as in the international working group – have further refined existing data. They have also come up with new technical information, for example on aircraft performance.

Yesterday, this process yielded new results, which indicated that MH370 flew at a higher speed than previously thought, which in turn means it used more fuel and could not travel as far. This information was passed to RCC Australia by the NTSB, to help further refine and narrow the search area.

The Australian authorities have indicated that they have shifted the search area approximately 1,100 kilometres to the north east. Because of ocean drift, this new search area could still be consistent with the potential objects identified by various satellite images over the past week.

This work is on-going, and we can expect further refinements. As the Australian authorities indicated this morning, this is standard practice in a search operation. It is a process of continually refining data which in turn further narrows the search area. With each step, we get closer to understanding MH370’s flight path.

Searches must be conducted on the best information available at the time. In the search for MH370, we have consistently followed the evidence, and acted on credible leads. Our search and rescue efforts have been directed by verified and corroborated information. This latest refinement of the search area is no different.

Satellite images

Last night, Japanese authorities announced they had satellite images which showed a number of floating objects approximately 2,500 kilometres southwest of Perth. Early this morning we received separate satellite imagery from the Thai authorities which also showed potential objects.

These new satellite images join those released by Australia, China, France, and Malaysia, all of which are with RCC Australia. The range of potential objects, and the difficulty in re-identifying them shows just how complex this investigation is. We remain grateful to all our partners for continuing to assist in the search operations.

Concluding remarks.

The new search area, approximately 1,680 kilometres west of Perth, remains in the Australian area of responsibility.
Australia continues to lead the search efforts in this new area, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority gave a comprehensive operational update earlier today. As more information emerges, they will be issuing frequent operational updates, including on assets deployed.

I would like to echo their statements that the new search area, although more focused than before, remains considerable; and that the search conditions, although easier than before, remain challenging.

For the families of those on board, we pray that further processing of data, and further progress in the search itself, brings us closer to finding MH370.

ENDS

Press Conference MH370 27 mac 2014

PRESS STATEMENT
BY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, MALAYSIA

THURSDAY, 27 MARCH 2014, 5:50PM


1. Chinese Special Envoy

a. Yesterday, His Excellency Zhang Yesui, the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Government of China, met with the Prime Minister and Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin, the Acting Minister of Transport and the Minister of Defence.

b. Following the meeting with Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin, His Excellency Zhang Yesui also received a comprehensive technical briefing by the international working group, led by the AAIB. Inmarsat’s findings - which led to the conclusion that MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean - were explained during the meeting.

c. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) of the CAAC were present at yesterday’s technical briefing. The CAAC and AAID have been, and will continue to be, members of the international working group.

d. Today His Excellency Zhang Yesui also met with the Chinese relatives of those on board MH370 who are currently in KL.

e. Malaysia is committed to working closely with the Government of China and to sharing all information related to MH370 in full.

2. Family briefing in Beijing

a. Yesterday, the Malaysian high-level team met with the Chinese relatives of those on board MH370 who are based in Beijing, for the fourth time. Over the duration of the three hour meeting, the relatives received a technical briefing and an update on the search operation. The high-level team also answered questions. Today, the high-level team met relatives again, at 3:25pm Malaysia time. The meeting is still underway.

b. Malaysia is working hard to try and make the briefings to the Chinese relatives in Beijing more productive. Malaysian officials met with His Excellency Huang Huikang, China’s Ambassador to Malaysia, to request the Government of China to engage and clarify the actual situation to the affected families in particular and the Chinese public in general.

3. Operational update

a. The planned area of search today was 16,298 square nautical miles in the West sector, and 6,506 square nautical miles in the East sector.

b. The area identified by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA) yesterday – where the 122 potential objects were sighted – was also due to be searched today.


c. Today, nine planes travelled to the search area – five in the East sector and four in the West sector.


In the East sector, searches by air were conducted by:
· two Australian civilian aircraft.

· one Chinese Ilyushin IL-76.

· one New Zealand civil aircraft.

· one Japanese Gulfstream.


In the West sector, searches by air were conducted by:
· two Australian P-3 Orions.

· two Australian civil aircraft.



d. Today six ships were deployed in the search area – one in the East sector and five in the West sector.


In the East sector, searches by ship were conducted by:
· one Chinese ship (the Xue Long).


In the West sector, searches by ship were conducted by:
· four Chinese ships (the Kunlunshan, Haikou, Qiandaohui, and Zhonghaishaohua).

· one Australian ship (the HMAS Success).



e. One Chinese ship (the Hai Xun) is expected to arrive in the search area tonight.

f. Today the weather deteriorated in the search area and search operations were suspended at 11:40am.

4. Malaysian team going to Perth

a. Malaysia is in the process of sending a team, comprised of the DCA, MAS, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, to Perth. This team will work closely with the Australian Rescue Co-ordination Centre to assist with the search operation.


-ENDS-

MH370 : Press Conference 26 mac 2014

MH370 PRESS BRIEFING BY HISHAMMUDDIN HUSSEIN,

MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND ACTING MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

26 MARCH 2014, 5:30PM

Introductory statement

The search for MH370 continues. Our efforts are now focused in the southern Indian Ocean, where a multi-national team, led by Australia, is combing the waters trying to find debris from the flight.

Our determination to find MH370 remains steadfast. As we have said all along, we will never give up trying to find the plane – in order to bring closure for the families, and to establish exactly what happened to MH370.
New satellite images

Australia, China and France have already released satellite images, showing objects that may be related to MH370.
Yesterday, on 25 March, the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA) received new satellite images from Airbus Defence and Space, which is based in France. The images were taken on 23 March.

MRSA analysed the images and - in one area of the ocean measuring some 400 square kilometres - were able to identify 122 potential objects.

Some objects were a metre in length; others were as much as 23 metres in length. Some of the objects appeared to be bright, possibly indicating solid materials.

The objects were located approximately 2,557 kilometres from Perth.

We will issue handouts relating to this new information, after this press conference.

MRSA’s findings were immediately forwarded to the Australian Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Perth yesterday.
It must be emphasized that we cannot tell whether the potential objects are from MH370. Nevertheless, this is another new lead that will help direct the search operation.
We have now had four separate satellite leads, from Australia, China and France, showing possible debris. It is now imperative that we link the debris to MH370. This will enable us to further reduce the search area, and locate more debris from the plane.

2. Operational update

Australia is leading the search effort in the southern Indian Ocean, based out of Perth. Malaysia continues to play a co-ordinating role. All countries involved are displaying unprecedented levels of co-operation; that has not changed.
Australia has divided the search area into two sectors, East and West.

Today the weather has improved, and twelve planes will travel to the search area – six in the East sector and six in the West.

In the East sector, searches will be conducted by:

· one Australian P3 Orion, and three Australian civilian aircraft.

· one Chinese Ilyushin IL-76.

· one New Zealand P3 Orion.

In the West sector, searches will be conducted by:
· one US P8 Poseidon.

· one Korean P3 Orion.

· one Japanese P3 Orion.

· two Australian P3 Orions, and one civilian aircraft.

Two ships will also join the search operations.

Yesterday ‘HMAS Success’ was redeployed to the south of the search area due to bad weather. Today the ship has returned and will support the search operation in the West sector.

Meanwhile, the Chinese ship ‘Xue Long’ has today been deployed to the East sector.

A Japanese Coast Guard gulfstream aircraft left Subang this morning for Perth, to join the search operation.

As I mentioned yesterday, the search operations in the northern corridor, and in the northern part of the southern corridor, have been called off. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent diplomatic notes to all relevant countries to formally inform them of this change.

Before I continue, I would like to convey our appreciation to the Australian authorities, and in particular to Prime Minister Tony Abbot, for making such an extraordinary contribution to the search operation.

Chinese Special Envoy

Today, the Prime Minister met with His Excellency Zhang Yesui, the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Government of China. I also met with His Excellency this afternoon.

During our conversation His Excellency conveyed China’s commitment to continue and intensify the search operation in any way possible, and to deploy any assets that may be required.

Malaysia has provided his His Excellency and his delegation with a full update on the latest information from Inmarsat.
His Excellency and his delegation also received a comprehensive briefing from the international technical team.

4. International Working Group

As I mentioned yesterday, based on the new information provided by Inmarsat, we have established an international working group. The agencies involved in this working group include: Inmarsat, AAIB, the Chinese CAAC and AAID, NTSB, FAA, Boeing and Rolls Royce, as well as the relevant Malaysian authorities.

The role of the working group is to help try and refine the Inmarsat data and, if possible, more accurately determine the final position of MH370.

5. Further information

I should like to note that the CEO of Malindo Airlines, Chandran Rama Murthy, has joined me on stage today, and will be able to answer any questions that you might have.
As I announced yesterday, MAS is now taking a lead in communicating with the families and is conducting their own press conferences. MAS will hold another press conference tomorrow.

Concluding remarks

New satellite images continue to provide clues in the search for MH370. And with improved weather conditions, aircraft are now able to investigate objects of interest.
I would like to thank once again our international partners for their continued support and assistance. The search for MH370, and the investigation into what happened on board the flight, is now a truly international effort.

ENDS

MH370 : INFORMATION PROVIDED TO MH370 INVESTIGATION BY UK AIR ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATION BRANCH (AAIB)

25/03/14

On 13 March we received information from UK satellite company Inmarsat indicating that routine automatic communications between one of its satellites and the aircraft could be used to determine several possible flight paths.

Inmarsat UK has continued to refine this analysis and yesterday the AAIB presented its most recent findings, which indicate that the aircraft flew along the southern corridor.

As you have heard, an aircraft is able to communicate with ground stations via satellite.

If the ground station has not heard from an aircraft for an hour it will transmit a 'log on / log off' message, sometimes referred to as a ‘ping’, using the aircraft’s unique identifier. If the aircraft receives its unique identifier it returns a short message indicating that it is still logged on. This process has been described as a “handshake” and takes place automatically.

From the ground station log it was established that after ACARS stopped sending messages, 6 complete handshakes took place.

The position of the satellite is known, and the time that it takes the signal to be sent and received, via the satellite, to the ground station can be used to establish the range of the aircraft from the satellite. This information was used to generate arcs of possible positions from which the Northern and Southern corridors were established.

Refined analysis from Inmarsat
In recent days Inmarsat developed a second innovative technique which considers the velocity of the aircraft relative to the satellite. Depending on this relative movement, the frequency received and transmitted will differ from its normal value, in much the same way that the sound of a passing car changes as it approaches and passes by. This is called the Doppler effect. The Inmarsat technique analyses the difference between the frequency that the ground station expects to receive and that actually measured. This difference is the result of the Doppler effect and is known as the Burst Frequency Offset.

The Burst Frequency Offset changes depending on the location of the aircraft on an arc of possible positions, its direction of travel, and its speed. In order to establish confidence in its theory, Inmarsat checked its predictions using information obtained from six other B777 aircraft flying on the same day in various directions. There was good agreement.

While on the ground at Kuala Lumpur airport, and during the early stage of the flight, MH370 transmitted several messages. At this stage the location of the aircraft and the satellite were known, so it was possible to calculate system characteristics for the aircraft, satellite, and ground station.

During the flight the ground station logged the transmitted and received pulse frequencies at each handshake. Knowing the system characteristics and position of the satellite it was possible, considering aircraft performance, to determine where on each arc the calculated burst frequency offset fit best.

The analysis showed poor correlation with the Northern corridor, but good correlation with the Southern corridor, and depending on the ground speed of the aircraft it was then possible to estimate positions at 0011 UTC, at which the last complete handshake took place. I must emphasise that this is not the final position of the aircraft.

There is evidence of a partial handshake between the aircraft and ground station at 0019 UTC. At this time this transmission is not understood and is subject to further ongoing work.

No response was received from the aircraft at 0115 UTC, when the ground earth station sent the next log on / log off message. This indicates that the aircraft was no longer logged on to the network.

Therefore, some time between 0011 UTC and 0115 UTC the aircraft was no longer able to communicate with the ground station. This is consistent with the maximum endurance of the aircraft.

This analysis by Inmarsat forms the basis for further study to attempt to determine the final position of the aircraft. Accordingly, the Malaysian investigation has set up an international working group, comprising agencies with expertise in satellite communications and aircraft performance, to take this work forward.

In Annex I (attached) there are three diagrams, showing:

Doppler correction contributions

This diagram shows the Doppler contributions to the burst frequency offset.


MH370 measured data against predicted tracks

The blue line is the burst frequency offset measured at the ground station for MH370.

The green line is the predicted burst frequency offset for the southern route, which over the last 6 handshakes show close correlation with the measured values for MH370.

The red line is the predicted burst frequency offset for the northern route, which over the last 6 handshakes does not correlate with the measured values for MH370.


Example southern tracks

This shows the southern tracks for a ground speed of 400 and 450 knots ground speed. It should be noted that further work is required to determine the aircraft speed and final position.

Press Conference MH370 24 mac 2014

MH370 PRESS BRIEFING BY HISHAMMUDDIN HUSSEIN,

MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND ACTING MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

24 MARCH 2014, 530PM



Introductory statement 

The search for MH370 continues. Over the past few days, new leads from satellite data have focused our search and rescue operations in the southern corridor. Our partners continue to deploy assets to assist us, as we work to narrow the search areas.

Operational update
Yesterday, 18,500 square nautical miles were searched in the Australian search area.

Two orange objects approximately one metre in length and one white coloured drum were sighted by search aircraft, but remain unidentified and have not been conclusively linked to MH370.

HMAS Success detected two radar targets within the search area, but could not locate the targets on further investigation of the area.

Earlier today, a Chinese search plane reportedly sighted objects in the Australian search area. These objects are not in the vicinity of those which were identified by the Australian authorities last week.

A few minutes ago the Prime Minister received a call from the Prime Minister of Australia, who informed him that an Australian search aircraft had located two objects in the Australian search area, one circular and one rectangular.

HMAS Success is in the vicinity and it is possible that the objects could be received within the next few hours, or by tomorrow morning at the latest.

Three search areas, totalling approximately 20,000 square nautical miles, have been identified for operations today. RCC Australia anticipates that 10 aircraft will be used.

HMAS Success remains the only vessel in the search area. A number of Chinese vessels are expected to commence arriving within the search area on 25th March.

3 aircraft - 2 from Japan and 1 from the UAE – have already departed from Subang today and are en route to the southern corridor.

6 Malaysian ships, with 3 ship-borne helicopters, are now in northern part of the southern corridor. 10 Chinese ships are in the southern corridor, carrying out search and rescue operations. HMS Echo is currently refuelling in the Maldives and will be sailing to the southern corridor this evening.

In the northern corridor, Turkmenistan have confirmed they have not had any sightings of MH370 on their radar. Each piece of information we receive from our partners in the northern corridor helps us to continuously narrow the corridor.

Satellite images
New leads into MH370’s possible location have come from satellite data. This was one of the four tools we identified that could narrow the search area, along with surveillance radar data, increasing surface and air assets, and bringing in more technical experts.

The most recent images were obtained by French satellites, which captured radar images of potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor on 21st March. These images were received by Malaysia on the evening of the 22nd March, and were relayed to RCC Australia on the morning of the 23rd March, as they are leading the search in that particular area of the southern corridor.

This morning we have received a further set of images from French satellites, this time captured by cameras. These images were taken yesterday and have been relayed to RCC Australia.

Family briefings
Yesterday, the high-level team met with families in Beijing for more than eight hours.

The families asked many questions, and made detailed requests for radar readings and other data. Some of these questions could not be answered, and some of the data they requested was still being held by the investigation, as is standard procedure in investigations of this sort.

After meeting with the families for a total of more than twelve hours, and taking hundreds of questions, the high-level team has returned to Kuala Lumpur to discuss the matters raised at the meetings. They will return to Beijing tomorrow to continue.

The briefings in Kuala Lumpur over the last two days went smoothly, and the families responded as positively as could be expected, with the families engaging with representatives from the relevant authorities.

It has always been our intention to keep the families as fully informed as possible. We continue to do so.

Specific questions
There are a few specific questions I would like to respond to.

On the police investigation, we can confirm that the police have interviewed more than a hundred people, including families of both the pilot and co-pilot.

As far as the transcript is concerned, the technical committee is considering releasing it and we will keep you informed about the decision.

The Inspector General of the Police will attend tomorrow’s press conference to answer further questions on the investigation.

We can also confirm that MH370 was carrying wooden pallets. However, there is as yet no evidence that these are related to the wooden pallets reportedly sighted in the Australian search area.

Concluding remarks
The search for MH370 has taken us halfway around the world. At the moment there are new leads, but nothing conclusive. Our thoughts continue to be with the families who are still waiting for news. In the meantime, we are grateful for the on-going co-operation shown by our partners in this multinational search.



ENDS

Press Conference MH370 23 Mac 2014

MH370 PRESS STATEMENT

BY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, MALAYSIA

SUNDAY, 23 MARCH 2014, 5:30PM


1. Search and rescue operational update

a. The search and rescue operation remains an international effort, co-ordinated by Malaysia. A number of countries are leading in their respective search areas and all countries involved are displaying unprecedented levels of co-operation.

b. This morning, Malaysia received new satellite images from the French authorities showing potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor. Malaysia immediately relayed these images to the Australian rescue co-ordination centre.

c. Two Chinese Ilyushin IL-76s have arrived in Perth, and will depart for the search and rescue operation tomorrow at 05:00 and 06:00.

d. Two Japanese P3 Orions today left Subang airport for Perth.

e. The Australian rescue co-ordination centre will deploy eight aircraft (four military and four civilian) to the southern corridor today, to conduct visual searching.


f. The Australian Defence Vessel ‘Ocean Shield’, which has a sub-sea remotely operated vehicle, is currently en route to the southern corridor.

g. As of 2:30pm Malaysia time, Australian officials have informed us that they have not made any new sightings regarding MH370.

h. One Indian Navy P8 Poseidon and one Indian Air Force C130 left Subang airport today to join the search and rescue operation in the northern part of the southern corridor, which is being led by Indonesia.

i. A number of other sorties from Subang airport to the southern corridor were cancelled today due to bad weather caused by tropical cyclone Gillian.


j. Australia, China and France have now released satellite images that show potential objects, which may be related to MH370, in the vicinity of the southern corridor. All this information has been forwarded to Australia, as the lead country in the area of concern.

2. Family briefing

a. The Malaysian high level team started a briefing in Beijing this morning for relatives of those on board MH370. The meeting lasted more than 6 hours. This is the third such meeting that has been held. The team presented information to the relatives and answered questions. The Government wishes to reiterate its commitment and continued engagement with the relatives of those on board MH370.
3. Update on ACARS transmission

a. The last ACARS transmission, sent at 1.07am, showed nothing unusual. The 1.07am transmission showed a normal routing all the way to Beijing.


-ENDS-