100 days after MH370, Malaysia vows to keep searching

Relatives of Chinese passengers onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 burn incense as they pray for their loved ones after the flight went missing for 100 days, at the Lama Temple in Beijing, China, Sunday, June 15, 2014. Despite a massive air and sea search, no trace of Flight 370 has been found, more than three months after it vanished after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. Chinese characters on their T-shirts read “Pray for MH370. Come Home Safely.” AP

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s government pledged on Monday that it “will not rest” until missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is found, as it marked the 100th day since the plane vanished on March 8 with 239 passengers and crew.

“100 days after MH370 went missing, its loss remains a painful void in the hearts of all Malaysians and those around the world. We cannot and will not rest until MH370 is found,” Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

In a statement, Hishammuddin also promised that Malaysia “cannot and will not abandon” the families of the missing passengers, some of whom have sharply criticized the Malaysian government’s handling of the mystery.

The Boeing 777 inexplicably disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No trace of it has been found despite an extensive Australian-led search effort deep in the Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have gone down.

Hishammuddin also offered Malaysia’s thanks to Australia, China, the United States and fellow Southeast Asian countries for their assistance in the search.

Malaysian Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya issued a separate statement pledging similar resolve in finding the plane, calling the period since March 8 “the longest and most painful 100 days in Malaysia Airlines’ history.”

Anguished relatives of MH370 passengers have accused Malaysia’s government of a bumbling and chaotic response to the crisis and covering up what happened to the plane.

Malaysia denies it is withholding information but has remained tight-lipped over investigations that it has launched into the mystery and given no timetable for when the findings of those probes will be released.

RELATED STORIES

Q&A: What happened to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370? 
 
Interactive Infographics: Malaysia Airlines MH370