Kuala Lumpur - Fresh objects floating in the southern Indian Ocean has renewed hopes for families of those aboard the missing Malaysian flight MH370, but uncertainty still surrounds even three weeks after its disappearance.
Orange items over two meters have been spotted in the remote Indian ocean region, where search operations are on-going, but they are yet to be confirmed as belonging to MH370.
Search for the missing flight resumed on Monday with 10 aircraft and 10 ships. Australia, who is spearheading the search operations, has insisted that they will continue expanding the search until debris are found.
Australian navy ship Ocean Shield, fitted with a "black box" detector and an autonomous underwater vehicle, is also engaged in the search and officials are battling the clock as they attempt to uncover the plane's black box, the flight data recorder, whose batteries are designed to last about 30 days.
The plane, with 239 passengers and crew on board, disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8.
Relatives of the 239 passengers and crew have begun arriving in Kuala Lumpur seeking more information from Malaysian officials. They have also requested that officials continue to search for survivors no matter how remote it is.
Malaysia's Acting Transportation Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, who met relatives on Saturday, assured greater engagement and agreed not to close the door on the possibility of survivors.
He also called for calm from relatives as emotions ran high between them and the Malaysian government. "As long as there is even a remote chance of survival we will pray and do whatever it takes," he promised.
"What they (families) want is a commitment on our part to continue the search, and that I have given. For me, as the minister responsible, this is the hardest part of my life at the moment.
"Miracles do happen, remote or otherwise, and that is the hope that the families want me to convey -- not only to the Malaysian government, MAS (Malaysia Airlines), but also to the world at large," Hishammuddin said.
An international panel on aviation security along with a parliament select committee may be appointed by the Malaysian government to probe overall airline safety.
Steps are also being taken to step up security in the entire aviation industry in the long term. "On the point of responsibility I've indicated that not only the Malaysian air force is doing the panel of inquiry, the Ministry of Transport is coming up with an international panel, which is being formed at the moment. The Malaysian government is to decide whether it would have a parliamentary select committee or royal commission and I believe all our partners would like to see what we have discovered through this exercise," he said.
Hishammuddin pointed out that aviation industry stakeholders including Boeing, Rolls Royce, the FBI, Chinese agencies and AAIB from Britain are involved in the search operations, which made the right platform to also discuss future security measures for the aviation industry.
"You practically got everyone in the aviation industry involved. This is the best time for everybody to relook, not only at the aviation landscape but also on the issue of security and defense."
Meanwhile, arrangements to fly families of passengers to Perth will only be done after recovered debris is confirmed as from MH370.
"Arrangements will be made as soon as the relevant government agencies have provided clearances for Malaysia Airlines to bring family members to the site where aircraft wreckage will be kept," the Malaysia Airlines said in a statement.
The statement said a Family Assistance Centre (FAC) will be established in Perth. The FAC will become the focal point for all activities that have been planned for the families including briefings, religious and prayer services.
"Malaysia Airlines is fully committed to supporting all efforts by the relevant foreign governments who continue to search for and recover the aircraft, and it continues to cooperate with all authorities involved in the investigation." – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua
