Singapore leaders send condolences to families of AirAsia QZ8501's victims

SINGAPORE - Singapore leaders President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have conveyed their condolences to Indonesian President Joko Widodo over the crash of ill-fated AirAsia flight QZ8501.

Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam and Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew have also sent letters to their Indonesian counterparts to express their sympathies.

Singapore leaders have also taken to social media to communicate their condolences to the families and friends of the victims, and to update their followers on Singapore's involvement in the search and rescue operations.

PM Lee wrote: "Thinking of those who lost loved ones on AirAsia ‪#‎QZ8501‬ as we mark the new year. - LHL" along with his New Year message for 2015 which was posted earlier today on Facebook.

Since Dec 28, PM Lee has been posting regularly on his Facebook page to express his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic AirAsia flight.

PM Lee offered words of encouragement and sympathies to them and also updated his followers on how the RSAF is helping in operations to locate the aircraft and the victims.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has also been posting details on how Singapore is helping with the search mission since Dec 28. He shared how "relevant agencies have been activated and are ready to provide assistance at short notice".

Minister Lui also asked his followers to continue praying and keeping the crew, passengers and families of the missing plane in their thoughts.

DPM Teo Chee Hean posted on Facebook earlier Wednesday afternoon that they are doing their best to continue assisting in search operations for AirAsia plane.

He reported that the Singapore Navy has "one LST at location with 2 Super Puma helicopters". A Rescue Vessel with sonar, underwater vehicle, and diving support facilities is reaching the location today, he added.

Minister Teo also said Singapore has offered Indonesia "additional sonar and underwater vehicle assets to assist in the search and recovery ops to help bring closure for the loved ones waiting".

wjeanne@sph.com.sg