MH370: Relatives cling on to dwindling hopes

They are still hoping that their loved ones are not dead but alive somewhere.

They are not yet ready to accept the inevitable, especially when no debris has been found.

A multi-national search team has been scouring the southern Indian Ocean for any clues, or debris, from the plane.

FAMILY OF MS CHEW KAR MOOI

In Alor Setar, Kedah, the family of bank employee Chew Kar Mooi, 31, finds it "very hard" to accept that the passengers have perished, The Star reported.

Her sister Chew Kar Hui, 33, said: "There's no detailed explanation except that the last position was in the Indian Ocean."

Despite preparing for the worst, she said her family was still hoping that Ms Chew and everyone else from the plane are safe at an unknown location.

"Although I know the chances are slim, we are still optimistic," the sister was quoted as saying.

Ms Chew Kar Hui, a housewife living in Kuala Lumpur, returned to Alor Setar to be with her parents Chew Kok Sia, 62, and Tan Tuan Lay, 53.

She said: "My parents and I are so heartbroken upon learning about the latest update. My mum dreamed twice that my sister came home as usual."

FAMILY OF MR JEE JING HANG

The family of Kedah businessman Jee Jing Hang, 41, is also hoping for a miracle. The father of two children, aged 11 and 13, owns a computer software firm.

His brother, Mr Jee Ying Seong, 42, said they are still hoping that his brother will return home safely.

He said: "As long as there's no proof on my brother's whereabouts, there's still hope."

FAMILY OF MS GOH SOCK LAY

In Ipoh, Perak, Mr Choi Tat Seng, 74, is still waiting for news about his daughter-in-law, Ms Goh Sock Lay, one of the stewardesses on the flight.

Mr Choi said he wanted to see evidence of the missing plane before giving up hope.

He told The Star: "My wife, who was very close to her, was devastated and broke down immediately after getting the call from my son. I want to believe my son, but I want to see evidence of the plane's wreckage or debris."

IN BEIJING

In Beijing, frustrated relatives of Chinese passengers demanded answers from the Malaysian ambassador for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Some even insulted him at a Beijing hotel where the meeting was held, AFP reported.

"All the things that were promised, we have received nothing. Was the ambassador talking out of the other end of his body?" one relative said.

His comments drew applause from other family members.

There were also queries about why some of the help previously provided by Malaysia to the families in Beijing has been withdrawn.

Ambassador Iskandar Sarudin explained that Malaysian administrators had been withdrawn from the hotel at the request of Chinese authorities as "emotions had been running high" after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said satellite data suggested the flight had gone down in the southern Indian Ocean.

Many of the 300 relatives who crowded the briefing room on Wednesday accused senior Malaysian officials of announcing the plane's loss without firm evidence.

"There is no sign of the plane, so for what reasons are you so ready to confirm that it has crashed?" one man shouted at the panel, comprising the ambassador, and military and transport chiefs.

Said another: "We demand you retract that the plane has crashed into the sea."

Many continued to cling to conspiracy theories as well as the hope that the lack of physical evidence might mean their loved ones are still alive.

At one point, a lieutenant general of the Royal Malaysian Air Force told the crowd he had not ruled out any possibility, including hijacking.

"If you have not ruled out any possibility, that includes the possibility that our loved ones are alive, right?" one relative asked to cheers.

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