MH370: Flags in Kedah not to fly at half mast for now

JITRA - Kedah government is not instructing its building and offices to set the state flags at half mast as for now, out of respect for the families of Malaysia Airlines MH370 passengers who are still hoping for their safe return. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said the matter was decided to respect the sensitivity of the affected families who were still clinging onto hope that their loved ones were still alive and would return safely.

Mukhriz said the state would only asked the state flags at government building and offices to be set at half mast after the authorities conclude their search on the jetliner which gone missing since Mar 8.

He added that the state executive council had also decided that Kedah would not hold a special deceased prayers for MH370 Muslim passengers for now until the aircraft and the people on board are found.

"We fully understand that the chances to find all passengers of the ill-fated plane is very slim but even if there is still a 1 per cent chance, we will not give up hope.

"We feel very sorry for the affected families and respect the fact that they are not giving up hope until the aircraft and the passengers are found," Mukhriz said after launching the Taman Tunku Intan Safinaz and the construction of a low-cost apartment project today.

The 420 unit apartment was part of a town ship project with a total of 1,538 homes being developed by Bina Aman Realty, a subsidiary of Kedah government-linked company Bina Darulaman Bhd Group (BDB).

Present were state Housing and Water Supply Resources committee chairman Badrolhisham Hashim and BDB group managing director Datuk Izham Yusoff.

Mukhriz was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's announcement on Monday that authorities believed MH370 had flown along the southern corridor and ended its journey in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.

Najib had said the conclusion was made based on satellite data provided by Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellite) and the United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Asked on whether the state government would extend its assistance to the families of four passengers from Kedah, Mukhriz said the matter would be decided later.

"I had personally visited and handed over some cash assistance to the affected families in Everly Hotel earlier and we will decide on further assistance once the search for the missing aircraft is concluded," he added.