1 00:00:00,159 --> 00:00:02,490 Speaker 1: You're listening to AC N A podcast. 2 00:00:08,380 --> 00:00:12,020 Speaker 1: This week's episode is about one of the biggest aviation 3 00:00:12,029 --> 00:00:17,030 Speaker 1: mysteries of our time. On March 8th 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight. 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 1: Mh 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing. Then 5 00:00:21,290 --> 00:00:25,540 Speaker 1: suddenly it just seemed to vanish off radar screens. Days 6 00:00:25,549 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: later the confirmation no one wanted to hear 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:30,100 Speaker 2: flight. 8 00:00:30,219 --> 00:00:32,860 Speaker 1: Mh 370 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,860 Speaker 1: ended in a southern 10 00:00:38,299 --> 00:00:39,269 Speaker 1: Indian Ocean. 11 00:00:40,348 --> 00:00:43,810 Speaker 1: What was supposed to be a routine 6.5 hour flight 12 00:00:43,819 --> 00:00:47,470 Speaker 1: turned into a 10 year long quest for closure. This 13 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,930 Speaker 1: is what it sounds like outside the Malaysian embassy in Beijing. 14 00:00:50,939 --> 00:00:52,689 Speaker 1: Nearly every anniversary. 15 00:01:00,060 --> 00:01:01,060 Speaker 1: See what you are, 16 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,349 Speaker 1: family and friends calling on Malaysia to tell them the 17 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,339 Speaker 1: truth about what happened to all of those on board. 18 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,389 Speaker 1: How likely will families ever find the answers they're looking for? 19 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,110 Speaker 1: I'm Theresa Tang. In this episode of the CN A 20 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,029 Speaker 1: correspondent podcast. We tackle this story from Malaysia with Melissa 21 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,779 Speaker 1: Goh and from Beijing with Olivia Sung 22 00:01:24,949 --> 00:01:27,929 Speaker 1: a very warm welcome to the both of you. You know, 23 00:01:27,940 --> 00:01:31,260 Speaker 1: whenever something big happens in the news, it kind of 24 00:01:31,269 --> 00:01:33,709 Speaker 1: sticks in your memory like a moment frozen in time. 25 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,290 Speaker 1: Right for me. I clearly recall March 2014. I was 26 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,639 Speaker 1: in front of a computer in London working on an 27 00:01:40,650 --> 00:01:43,059 Speaker 1: assignment for a grad class that I was in when 28 00:01:43,069 --> 00:01:46,300 Speaker 1: I saw this headline. And I totally remember thinking, what 29 00:01:46,309 --> 00:01:49,769 Speaker 1: in the world are you serious? What about you guys? 30 00:01:49,779 --> 00:01:52,169 Speaker 1: I'm curious to know where were both of you when 31 00:01:52,180 --> 00:01:54,300 Speaker 1: news broke 10 years ago? Mel, 32 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,279 Speaker 1: I was in KL, it was the weekend and I 33 00:01:57,290 --> 00:01:58,870 Speaker 1: remember that, you know, I happened to be in the 34 00:01:58,879 --> 00:02:01,349 Speaker 1: office that early morning picking up some things that I 35 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,489 Speaker 1: left behind and I got a call from office in 36 00:02:03,500 --> 00:02:06,589 Speaker 1: Singapore asking me to check on a news flash that 37 00:02:06,599 --> 00:02:09,589 Speaker 1: came in that a Malaysia Airlines flight gone missing like 38 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:10,709 Speaker 1: six hours ago. 39 00:02:10,949 --> 00:02:13,220 Speaker 1: So I pick up the phone, I tried to call 40 00:02:13,229 --> 00:02:16,149 Speaker 1: the airline. The line was so busy. So I decided 41 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,949 Speaker 1: to hop on the train and head straight to the 42 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,369 Speaker 1: airport to find out more. But when I got there, 43 00:02:21,380 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: it was really absolute chaos. Already, families, media were told 44 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:28,289 Speaker 1: to go to the airport hotel, wait there for news. 45 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:31,100 Speaker 1: No one could tell us anything. The auditorium was just 46 00:02:31,110 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: being set up for news conferences and I caught the 47 00:02:34,649 --> 00:02:36,250 Speaker 1: first PC by the 48 00:02:36,436 --> 00:02:40,065 Speaker 1: Department of Civil Aviation and by the airline and they 49 00:02:40,076 --> 00:02:43,686 Speaker 1: confirmed that they have lost all contact with AM 370. 50 00:02:43,695 --> 00:02:46,205 Speaker 1: It was really bizarre because by then the plane had 51 00:02:46,216 --> 00:02:49,345 Speaker 1: gone missing for 10 hours. And then the ministers started 52 00:02:49,356 --> 00:02:52,205 Speaker 1: to arrive. The army, the Navy Chiefs, the police chiefs, 53 00:02:52,216 --> 00:02:55,526 Speaker 1: the whole place was so busy and crowded. After that, 54 00:02:55,535 --> 00:02:58,235 Speaker 1: the auditorium was like our home for the next two weeks. 55 00:02:58,386 --> 00:03:01,144 Speaker 1: Sometimes there were just three or four news conferences but 56 00:03:01,156 --> 00:03:01,505 Speaker 1: with 57 00:03:01,701 --> 00:03:03,981 Speaker 1: very little information for us to work on, they gave 58 00:03:03,992 --> 00:03:07,462 Speaker 1: us bits and pieces and you could see them scrambling 59 00:03:07,472 --> 00:03:11,531 Speaker 1: to piece together. It's just like a jigsaw puzzle. Olivia. 60 00:03:11,542 --> 00:03:12,242 Speaker 1: What about you? 61 00:03:12,451 --> 00:03:15,651 Speaker 2: Well, I remember it was a weekend like Mel said, 62 00:03:15,662 --> 00:03:18,072 Speaker 2: and I was at home in Singapore with my family 63 00:03:18,082 --> 00:03:21,121 Speaker 2: and we had the TV on when the news came in. 64 00:03:21,132 --> 00:03:24,561 Speaker 2: And I just remember thinking that this is so surreal 65 00:03:24,572 --> 00:03:26,962 Speaker 2: that a plane could disappear. 66 00:03:27,258 --> 00:03:29,698 Speaker 2: And then I remember we had the TV on throughout 67 00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:34,460 Speaker 2: the day because it was just quite unimaginable. I watch 68 00:03:34,470 --> 00:03:37,679 Speaker 2: Mel on air and other colleagues in the weeks that 69 00:03:37,690 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 2: followed him for myself last year when 70 00:03:40,889 --> 00:03:45,789 Speaker 2: the court hearings for the Chinese families began in November, 71 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: it really struck me. You know, the news cycle goes 72 00:03:49,369 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 2: on and after the initial frenzy of it, other headlines 73 00:03:54,250 --> 00:03:56,869 Speaker 2: come in and there are other news items. But then 74 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,389 Speaker 2: these families that we were interviewing, this is the reality 75 00:04:01,399 --> 00:04:04,570 Speaker 2: for the last decade and many of them that we 76 00:04:04,580 --> 00:04:07,770 Speaker 2: had been speaking to had tears in their eyes when 77 00:04:07,779 --> 00:04:09,750 Speaker 2: they told me, you know, I just want my family 78 00:04:10,169 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: to come back. I believe that they are still alive. 79 00:04:14,089 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: And that was something that for me and my cameraman, we, 80 00:04:18,329 --> 00:04:20,809 Speaker 2: we had to pause and we just take in as 81 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:25,178 Speaker 1: well. Mel the Malaysian government, they've been under enormous pressure 82 00:04:25,190 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: since day one to get to the bottom of this 83 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,820 Speaker 1: and they largely have taken responsibility for this investigation. Can 84 00:04:31,829 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: you take us back to that day and the years since, 85 00:04:34,769 --> 00:04:37,399 Speaker 1: in terms of the sort of resources officials have been 86 00:04:37,410 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: pouring into this search? 87 00:04:39,290 --> 00:04:42,140 Speaker 1: Well, it is described as one of the biggest and 88 00:04:42,149 --> 00:04:46,950 Speaker 1: probably the most expensive search operation in history involves so 89 00:04:46,959 --> 00:04:50,899 Speaker 1: many parties. At one point, Malaysia was coordinating hundreds of 90 00:04:50,910 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: assets from air to sea from 26 countries all wanted 91 00:04:55,010 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: to help. Even though their nationals were on board, everyone 92 00:04:58,609 --> 00:05:00,549 Speaker 1: just want to hop on and help th they were 93 00:05:00,559 --> 00:05:03,988 Speaker 1: combing the South China Sea because that was the last place. 94 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,809 Speaker 1: I mean the mh 370 disappeared from the radar screens 95 00:05:06,820 --> 00:05:07,950 Speaker 1: shortly after 96 00:05:08,049 --> 00:05:11,630 Speaker 1: Malaysia air traffic control handed over to Vietnam and then 97 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,988 Speaker 1: the search expanded to Straits of Malacca and all the 98 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,190 Speaker 1: way to the Andaman Sea because the military radar apparently 99 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,459 Speaker 1: picked up signals from an unidentified aircraft. But the army 100 00:05:22,470 --> 00:05:24,589 Speaker 1: chief said they weren't sure what it was because there 101 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: was no distress signal. If indeed go missing. That was 102 00:05:27,488 --> 00:05:30,269 Speaker 1: what they say five days after that it went missing 103 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,219 Speaker 1: and that went on for days before finally, we were 104 00:05:33,230 --> 00:05:36,709 Speaker 1: told that the plane ended in the Southern Indian Ocean 105 00:05:37,029 --> 00:05:40,309 Speaker 1: indeed is something never happened before in history, not never 106 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,928 Speaker 1: happened before in Malaysia. And according to the former defense minister, 107 00:05:43,940 --> 00:05:47,549 Speaker 1: Hishammuddin Hussein, whom I spoke with back then, he was 108 00:05:47,559 --> 00:05:50,959 Speaker 1: the acting transport minister and he said that Malaysia has 109 00:05:50,970 --> 00:05:53,979 Speaker 1: tried to level best and should not be faulted in 110 00:05:53,988 --> 00:05:57,350 Speaker 1: any way for its response which some described, especially the 111 00:05:57,359 --> 00:06:00,529 Speaker 1: family members. It was just too slow and too incompetent. 112 00:06:00,540 --> 00:06:01,450 Speaker 1: Let's take a listen. 113 00:06:01,970 --> 00:06:04,109 Speaker 1: On the first day is a roller coaster ride. You know, 114 00:06:04,119 --> 00:06:07,630 Speaker 1: if you're talking about 14 different nationals on the plane, 115 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,089 Speaker 1: if you're talking about 26 nations involved in the S 116 00:06:11,250 --> 00:06:14,099 Speaker 1: A operations, 117 00:06:14,769 --> 00:06:19,109 Speaker 1: it is a major task for a small country like 118 00:06:19,119 --> 00:06:25,570 Speaker 1: Malaysia to coordinate Olivia. There were 239 passengers and crew 119 00:06:25,579 --> 00:06:31,809 Speaker 1: on board. Mh 370 and of them 153 were Chinese nationals. 120 00:06:31,940 --> 00:06:34,260 Speaker 1: Can you explain that? Why were there so many of 121 00:06:34,269 --> 00:06:36,589 Speaker 1: them on board on that particular flight? 122 00:06:36,820 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: And what was the reaction like in China when news 123 00:06:39,890 --> 00:06:41,959 Speaker 1: broke of the plane's disappearance? 124 00:06:42,380 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 2: Well, from what we know, some of the passengers were 125 00:06:45,049 --> 00:06:49,769 Speaker 2: on board after returning from holidays with friends, others from 126 00:06:49,779 --> 00:06:53,799 Speaker 2: a business trip or to settle on visa matters. The 127 00:06:53,809 --> 00:06:57,190 Speaker 2: flight route is from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and takes 128 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:57,709 Speaker 2: about five 129 00:06:57,809 --> 00:07:01,630 Speaker 2: to six hours. It's this red eye flight leaving just 130 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,429 Speaker 2: after midnight and it saves time. I know Mel and 131 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,849 Speaker 2: I were chatting and mel has been on this same 132 00:07:07,859 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 2: flight before, 133 00:07:08,730 --> 00:07:11,869 Speaker 1: right? It's a red eye flight you slept through basically 134 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,010 Speaker 1: when you get there at 6 a.m. in the morning 135 00:07:14,019 --> 00:07:16,510 Speaker 1: for day break. Therefore, I think a lot of passengers 136 00:07:16,519 --> 00:07:18,670 Speaker 1: were probably sleeping at that time. 137 00:07:19,029 --> 00:07:20,119 Speaker 1: Midnight. Yeah. 138 00:07:20,250 --> 00:07:23,029 Speaker 2: And you know, speaking to some of the family members 139 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,829 Speaker 2: of those who are on board when they said that 140 00:07:25,839 --> 00:07:29,730 Speaker 2: they received the call that something had happened to the plane. 141 00:07:29,739 --> 00:07:32,850 Speaker 2: They described it as that they were just shell shocked 142 00:07:32,859 --> 00:07:36,190 Speaker 2: when they heard the news and many then proceeded to 143 00:07:36,209 --> 00:07:40,660 Speaker 2: this holding area or support center for family members at 144 00:07:40,670 --> 00:07:44,549 Speaker 2: the need to hotel in Beijing. And that's where officials 145 00:07:44,559 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: from Malaysia Airlines and for the Asian embassy work and 146 00:07:48,649 --> 00:07:48,929 Speaker 2: would even 147 00:07:49,024 --> 00:07:53,024 Speaker 2: actually speak to families. And one family member I spoke to, 148 00:07:53,035 --> 00:07:56,105 Speaker 2: he described it to me as being held on earth, 149 00:07:56,114 --> 00:08:00,704 Speaker 2: you know, hearing the tears, the outpouring and just that 150 00:08:00,714 --> 00:08:04,725 Speaker 2: anguish and anxiety from the family members. He said it's 151 00:08:04,734 --> 00:08:07,984 Speaker 2: something that he would never forget and many of the 152 00:08:07,994 --> 00:08:12,285 Speaker 2: family members would end up camping out staying there overnight 153 00:08:12,295 --> 00:08:15,584 Speaker 2: for a good two months and not wanting to leave 154 00:08:15,595 --> 00:08:18,285 Speaker 2: that room, that holding room and holding area out of 155 00:08:18,295 --> 00:08:18,885 Speaker 2: fear 156 00:08:19,179 --> 00:08:22,239 Speaker 2: that they would miss any new information. Of course, there 157 00:08:22,250 --> 00:08:25,589 Speaker 2: were all the media had been at that hotel as 158 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,119 Speaker 2: well trying to find out new information. 159 00:08:28,399 --> 00:08:31,769 Speaker 2: Well, I also interviewed 67 year old Mr Lee whose 160 00:08:31,779 --> 00:08:34,750 Speaker 2: son was on the flight, he was an engineer, had 161 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,059 Speaker 2: a bright future and had been sent to Malaysia to 162 00:08:38,070 --> 00:08:41,619 Speaker 2: work on a project, but he had to travel back 163 00:08:41,630 --> 00:08:45,929 Speaker 2: to Beijing to settle his work visa matters. And that's 164 00:08:45,940 --> 00:08:49,530 Speaker 2: when he boarded MH 370. And since then, this is 165 00:08:49,539 --> 00:08:53,580 Speaker 2: how Mr Lee has coped with the loss of his 166 00:08:53,590 --> 00:08:54,859 Speaker 2: son have listened. 167 00:08:58,090 --> 00:09:01,030 Speaker 2: I am just an old farmer before the incident. I 168 00:09:01,039 --> 00:09:05,140 Speaker 2: haven't even heard of the name like Weibo, including this computer. 169 00:09:05,450 --> 00:09:08,020 Speaker 2: I have developed some habits of keeping a diary. In 170 00:09:08,030 --> 00:09:11,909 Speaker 2: the past 10 years. I have written more than 2000 poems. 171 00:09:12,119 --> 00:09:15,590 Speaker 2: They have also been recognized by these journalists. They say 172 00:09:15,599 --> 00:09:18,599 Speaker 2: that this is the true expression of the soul. Why 173 00:09:18,609 --> 00:09:21,739 Speaker 2: have I persisted with Weibo or tiktok all these years? 174 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,580 Speaker 2: The biggest motivation of Tik Tok is to get more 175 00:09:24,590 --> 00:09:27,978 Speaker 2: people to pay attention to this matter and ultimately urge 176 00:09:27,989 --> 00:09:31,809 Speaker 2: the Malaysian government to restart the search for mh 370 177 00:09:31,919 --> 00:09:34,059 Speaker 2: and find the whereabouts of my child, 178 00:09:34,419 --> 00:09:38,599 Speaker 1: Olivia. Mr Li's son worked for China Tech firm ZTE. 179 00:09:38,609 --> 00:09:42,419 Speaker 1: And besides, you know, writing poems, he and his wife 180 00:09:42,429 --> 00:09:46,429 Speaker 1: went to the company's headquarters in person for three months 181 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,039 Speaker 1: trying to get them to take some sort of action. 182 00:09:49,169 --> 00:09:50,969 Speaker 1: Can you tell us about those efforts? 183 00:09:51,479 --> 00:09:54,569 Speaker 2: Yeah. So we met Mr Lee and his wife in 184 00:09:54,580 --> 00:09:58,150 Speaker 2: Shenzhen and spent time with them as they went about 185 00:09:58,159 --> 00:10:03,020 Speaker 2: their day. Shenzhen is this big metropolis city in the 186 00:10:03,030 --> 00:10:06,119 Speaker 2: south of China. And Mr Lee and his wife, they 187 00:10:06,130 --> 00:10:10,349 Speaker 2: are rural farms from the north of China in Hebei province. 188 00:10:10,359 --> 00:10:13,140 Speaker 2: So it is a long way from home and 189 00:10:13,659 --> 00:10:17,460 Speaker 2: morning, they would take the train from the hotel to 190 00:10:17,469 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 2: the ZT headquarters to meet with staff that as he 191 00:10:21,289 --> 00:10:24,929 Speaker 2: believes that they should be compensated for the loss of 192 00:10:24,940 --> 00:10:28,340 Speaker 2: his son who was sent to Malaysia on a work 193 00:10:28,349 --> 00:10:31,289 Speaker 2: trip and had to board mh 370 194 00:10:31,770 --> 00:10:34,348 Speaker 2: on some of the days he says they would visit 195 00:10:34,359 --> 00:10:38,719 Speaker 2: other government departments, look for legal advice and you can 196 00:10:38,729 --> 00:10:41,890 Speaker 2: really see it's been a roller coaster of emotions for 197 00:10:41,900 --> 00:10:44,250 Speaker 2: them at some point. He also did say that they 198 00:10:44,260 --> 00:10:47,380 Speaker 2: did not know what they could do next. And Mr 199 00:10:47,530 --> 00:10:50,630 Speaker 2: Lee has spent all his money and even got loans 200 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,059 Speaker 2: from his friends to continue their efforts in the past, 201 00:10:54,070 --> 00:10:56,690 Speaker 2: even to go to, for example, Madagascar 202 00:10:56,905 --> 00:11:00,416 Speaker 2: when they had been used that perhaps playing debris had 203 00:11:00,427 --> 00:11:04,427 Speaker 2: been found. And so I asked Mr B, why are 204 00:11:04,437 --> 00:11:07,017 Speaker 2: you doing this now? And why he is so persistent? 205 00:11:07,026 --> 00:11:09,636 Speaker 2: And his answer really struck me. He said during the 206 00:11:09,646 --> 00:11:12,257 Speaker 2: three years of the pandemic, he did a lot of 207 00:11:12,267 --> 00:11:15,817 Speaker 2: thinking about what life was meant to be about. And 208 00:11:15,937 --> 00:11:19,106 Speaker 2: he said that it was really tough and they weren't 209 00:11:19,117 --> 00:11:21,736 Speaker 2: able to travel from her to other parts of 210 00:11:21,823 --> 00:11:24,973 Speaker 2: China. And then because of the strict travel restrictions and 211 00:11:24,984 --> 00:11:27,544 Speaker 2: he said that he believed that he wanted to turn 212 00:11:27,554 --> 00:11:30,193 Speaker 2: the page on this episode and he believed that his 213 00:11:30,203 --> 00:11:32,924 Speaker 2: son would want him to lead a good life and 214 00:11:32,934 --> 00:11:36,243 Speaker 2: to enjoy life now. But then he said he didn't 215 00:11:36,254 --> 00:11:38,893 Speaker 2: realize that it was going to be so difficult to 216 00:11:38,903 --> 00:11:43,924 Speaker 2: turn the chapter because even things like closing bank accounts 217 00:11:43,963 --> 00:11:46,754 Speaker 2: or seeking compensation, he's met many road 218 00:11:47,041 --> 00:11:50,770 Speaker 2: and even having to get a death certificate, which he 219 00:11:50,780 --> 00:11:53,830 Speaker 2: still believes there is hope in perhaps finding his son. 220 00:11:53,841 --> 00:11:57,051 Speaker 2: That's something extremely difficult for them to do. He also 221 00:11:57,059 --> 00:12:00,301 Speaker 2: hasn't been able to come to an agreement with CT. 222 00:12:00,309 --> 00:12:02,471 Speaker 2: We should point out that we have reached out to 223 00:12:02,481 --> 00:12:05,670 Speaker 2: ZT for their response to this, but they have not 224 00:12:05,681 --> 00:12:09,569 Speaker 2: responded to our queries and speaking to other Chinese family 225 00:12:09,580 --> 00:12:11,731 Speaker 2: members as well. No, there is 226 00:12:12,270 --> 00:12:15,070 Speaker 2: that a man called Jh who has become the defector 227 00:12:15,109 --> 00:12:19,590 Speaker 2: spokesperson for Chinese families and he organizes them to, you know, 228 00:12:19,599 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 2: go to KL for the memorial votes and he's become 229 00:12:23,849 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 2: the spokesperson and face in front of the media. He 230 00:12:27,650 --> 00:12:30,739 Speaker 2: also talked about the difficulties. He has not been working 231 00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:34,010 Speaker 2: since the incident happened. So he needs, he lost his 232 00:12:34,020 --> 00:12:37,659 Speaker 2: job because he became too prominent as a result of 233 00:12:37,669 --> 00:12:38,619 Speaker 2: standing up and speak 234 00:12:38,729 --> 00:12:41,669 Speaker 2: to the media. But he says it feels like he's 235 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 2: in a bit of nimble, especially during festivals like team 236 00:12:45,599 --> 00:12:48,369 Speaker 2: which is a two sweeping fest and that's a time 237 00:12:48,380 --> 00:12:52,489 Speaker 2: where many go and pay respects to the dead loved ones. 238 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:54,859 Speaker 2: But he feels he is unable to do that. This 239 00:12:54,869 --> 00:12:58,150 Speaker 2: is not right because there is no to so to 240 00:12:58,159 --> 00:13:00,488 Speaker 2: speak of his mother who was on the flight that 241 00:13:00,500 --> 00:13:02,799 Speaker 2: he can go to to pay his respect and he 242 00:13:02,809 --> 00:13:05,130 Speaker 2: feel it not right as well because 243 00:13:05,450 --> 00:13:09,150 Speaker 2: there is no confirmation. He feels that she has passed 244 00:13:09,289 --> 00:13:11,718 Speaker 2: at the same time. He feels it's not right to 245 00:13:11,729 --> 00:13:15,289 Speaker 2: not remember her. And so he is persisting in his 246 00:13:15,299 --> 00:13:19,109 Speaker 1: search. It feels like there is one consolation though knowing 247 00:13:19,239 --> 00:13:21,859 Speaker 1: that there are other families who are going through the 248 00:13:21,869 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: same thing. And mel you know, these individual families in China, 249 00:13:25,770 --> 00:13:28,780 Speaker 1: they've grown to form sort of one large family in 250 00:13:28,789 --> 00:13:32,030 Speaker 1: a way bonded by this grief and a common goal. 251 00:13:32,039 --> 00:13:35,190 Speaker 1: How have those in Malaysia approached authorities? 252 00:13:35,570 --> 00:13:38,429 Speaker 1: You know, it's the same thing. Each time the anniversary approaches, 253 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,869 Speaker 1: it's another emotional roller coaster ride for them. Now, there 254 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,049 Speaker 1: were 38 Malaysian passengers and 12 crew members. There's a 255 00:13:46,059 --> 00:13:48,829 Speaker 1: family group that I know of and they are still active. 256 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:52,289 Speaker 1: They stay together, stay in touch, even during the pandemic 257 00:13:52,299 --> 00:13:56,589 Speaker 1: during the the subsequent lockdowns, they kept in touch. Now 258 00:13:56,599 --> 00:14:01,059 Speaker 1: helping each other. Finding closure was never easy, but they 259 00:14:01,070 --> 00:14:04,030 Speaker 1: couldn't bury their loved ones. Like Olivia said, they could 260 00:14:04,112 --> 00:14:07,663 Speaker 1: say goodbye. There's no proper goodbye. Although some have moved 261 00:14:07,672 --> 00:14:10,903 Speaker 1: on to focus on their families, their job, their career, 262 00:14:11,143 --> 00:14:14,013 Speaker 1: but they haven't given up, the victims will not be forgotten. 263 00:14:14,023 --> 00:14:16,862 Speaker 1: M 370 they are still hoping they will be found. 264 00:14:16,872 --> 00:14:19,603 Speaker 1: One day I caught up with Jitta. Her husband was 265 00:14:19,612 --> 00:14:23,343 Speaker 1: the in flight supervisor, Patrick Gomez has been with Malaysia 266 00:14:23,353 --> 00:14:26,533 Speaker 1: Airlines for more than three decades. She really hopes that 267 00:14:26,543 --> 00:14:26,682 Speaker 1: the 268 00:14:27,395 --> 00:14:31,875 Speaker 1: will give it another go resume. The search for mh 370. 269 00:14:31,885 --> 00:14:35,286 Speaker 1: She knows it's costly. It's probably, you know, we take 270 00:14:35,296 --> 00:14:38,325 Speaker 1: a lot of resources at a time like Malaysia government 271 00:14:38,335 --> 00:14:40,866 Speaker 1: is so stretched now. You know, we bring it all 272 00:14:40,875 --> 00:14:43,736 Speaker 1: time low and all. But she just hopes that just 273 00:14:43,745 --> 00:14:46,466 Speaker 1: give it a go. Who knows? This year may be 274 00:14:46,476 --> 00:14:50,435 Speaker 1: the year that Mh 370 is uncovered if it's indeed 275 00:14:50,445 --> 00:14:52,505 Speaker 1: in the bottom of the sea, she wants to see it. 276 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:57,130 Speaker 1: Olivia legal action is also one option but some families 277 00:14:57,140 --> 00:14:59,780 Speaker 1: told you that that's just not something they want to 278 00:14:59,789 --> 00:15:03,270 Speaker 1: take on. Why not? Why don't they consider that? Well, 279 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:04,140 Speaker 1: perhaps if you were to 280 00:15:04,150 --> 00:15:07,549 Speaker 2: talk first about the perspective of the families taking a 281 00:15:07,820 --> 00:15:11,109 Speaker 2: legal action, there are about 40 of them. They are 282 00:15:11,119 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 2: suing Malaysia Airlines, aircraft manufacturer, Boeing engine maker rolls Royce 283 00:15:16,770 --> 00:15:20,049 Speaker 2: and ensure alliance. They have a few demands, one is 284 00:15:20,059 --> 00:15:20,710 Speaker 2: called compensation 285 00:15:21,085 --> 00:15:23,734 Speaker 2: and the other is one of the main things that 286 00:15:23,744 --> 00:15:26,705 Speaker 2: they say they want to see is that they restart 287 00:15:26,715 --> 00:15:30,825 Speaker 2: the search for Mh 370. A lawyer I spoke to 288 00:15:30,835 --> 00:15:35,705 Speaker 2: in Beijing said there are grounds for this, for the demands. 289 00:15:35,815 --> 00:15:39,335 Speaker 2: But the issue is that the court can only determine 290 00:15:39,344 --> 00:15:43,145 Speaker 2: that these parties are obligated to do something, but how 291 00:15:43,155 --> 00:15:46,984 Speaker 2: to enforce that and how they can go about doing 292 00:15:46,994 --> 00:15:48,265 Speaker 2: it is not something 293 00:15:48,510 --> 00:15:52,950 Speaker 2: the court can do. Another thing also is that it 294 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:57,429 Speaker 2: took seven years of preparation before these hearings began at 295 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,729 Speaker 2: the end of last year. And up to now, we 296 00:15:59,739 --> 00:16:03,700 Speaker 2: still do not know when the outcome will be announced 297 00:16:03,710 --> 00:16:08,729 Speaker 2: because of the unique nature of this case. That particular 298 00:16:08,739 --> 00:16:11,729 Speaker 2: lawyer also told me that through the years, he's had 299 00:16:11,739 --> 00:16:15,700 Speaker 2: some family members of the passengers on board. Mh 370 300 00:16:15,710 --> 00:16:16,700 Speaker 2: come to him to 301 00:16:16,989 --> 00:16:21,130 Speaker 2: get his advice on whether he thinks they should join 302 00:16:21,140 --> 00:16:24,729 Speaker 2: this laws. Some of them were in two lines about it, 303 00:16:24,739 --> 00:16:26,849 Speaker 2: but some also felt like they did not want to 304 00:16:26,859 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: go through the hot peak of having to rive this 305 00:16:30,409 --> 00:16:34,210 Speaker 2: incident and they want to move on. And his advice 306 00:16:34,219 --> 00:16:37,130 Speaker 2: to them was that if it is too painful for you, then, 307 00:16:37,799 --> 00:16:42,159 Speaker 2: you know, maybe consider taking the compensation and letting it go. 308 00:16:42,169 --> 00:16:47,369 Speaker 2: So not an easy decision for the family members. Either way, 309 00:16:47,809 --> 00:16:51,619 Speaker 1: mel theories abound regarding what could have happened that the 310 00:16:51,630 --> 00:16:54,530 Speaker 1: pilot deliberately took the plane off course that there was 311 00:16:54,539 --> 00:16:57,349 Speaker 1: a hijacking a fire. It may have been shot down. 312 00:16:57,359 --> 00:16:59,450 Speaker 1: You know, that list just goes on and on. 313 00:16:59,739 --> 00:17:03,630 Speaker 1: But the official investigation is closed and you pose the 314 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,900 Speaker 1: question of what's next to Malaysia's current Transport Minister. Tell 315 00:17:07,910 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 1: us about that exchange. Well, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony, look, 316 00:17:12,229 --> 00:17:14,899 Speaker 1: he is cognizant of the fact that it's been 10 317 00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:18,300 Speaker 1: years and we are nowhere closer to finding out answers 318 00:17:18,310 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: for the families or solving the mystery surrounding. Mh 370. 319 00:17:22,838 --> 00:17:25,749 Speaker 1: He understands that many will continue to point fingers at 320 00:17:25,759 --> 00:17:29,707 Speaker 1: the Malaysian authorities, the national carrier, Malaysia Airlines. But he 321 00:17:29,718 --> 00:17:34,259 Speaker 1: wanted to stress that what happened was unprecedented. Malaysia has 322 00:17:34,269 --> 00:17:37,958 Speaker 1: never dealt with anything like that before. And the authorities, 323 00:17:37,968 --> 00:17:41,178 Speaker 1: you know, they have learned important or painful lessons. He 324 00:17:41,188 --> 00:17:44,488 Speaker 1: said on how to manage crisis, how to handle the 325 00:17:44,499 --> 00:17:49,379 Speaker 1: situation better, how to coordinate and communicate better. Now while 326 00:17:49,599 --> 00:17:52,300 Speaker 1: will always make time. He said to lend moral support 327 00:17:52,310 --> 00:17:56,260 Speaker 1: to families of mh 370 he won't entertain any sort 328 00:17:56,270 --> 00:18:00,199 Speaker 1: of conspiracy theories or give false hope to families have 329 00:18:00,209 --> 00:18:03,060 Speaker 1: been through enough. He said on whether Malaysia will hear 330 00:18:03,069 --> 00:18:06,089 Speaker 1: the families please and resume the search. This is what 331 00:18:06,099 --> 00:18:09,339 Speaker 1: he said. The government's 10 has always been very consistent. 332 00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:12,609 Speaker 1: If they are credible information to be submitted to the government, 333 00:18:12,619 --> 00:18:15,979 Speaker 1: then we are prepared to resume the search. But as 334 00:18:15,989 --> 00:18:18,478 Speaker 1: far as we are concerned, there was yet to be 335 00:18:18,489 --> 00:18:22,089 Speaker 1: any credible information that we have received so far. But 336 00:18:22,099 --> 00:18:25,579 Speaker 1: what do you consider as credible evidence though? Well, this 337 00:18:25,589 --> 00:18:25,619 Speaker 1: is 338 00:18:25,685 --> 00:18:28,625 Speaker 1: something that at least you have to be very particular, 339 00:18:28,635 --> 00:18:33,125 Speaker 1: very clear about the search area. It cannot be just 340 00:18:33,244 --> 00:18:37,425 Speaker 1: a general big area that you think is possible. I 341 00:18:37,435 --> 00:18:41,704 Speaker 1: think that is something for our respective technical team to determine. 342 00:18:42,165 --> 00:18:45,563 Speaker 1: But the moment we have any credible information and there's 343 00:18:45,574 --> 00:18:49,603 Speaker 1: a proposal from this search company Ocean Infinity, then we 344 00:18:49,614 --> 00:18:51,254 Speaker 1: are prepared to resume the search. 345 00:18:51,750 --> 00:18:54,810 Speaker 1: And mel you've been speaking with local aviation authorities as 346 00:18:54,819 --> 00:18:57,889 Speaker 1: well and they say progress has actually been made in 347 00:18:57,900 --> 00:19:02,869 Speaker 1: terms of tracking airplanes. Could something as bizarre and tragic 348 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,849 Speaker 1: as what happened to mh 370 happen again. 349 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,469 Speaker 1: Well, as far as the Department of Civil Aviation, which 350 00:19:09,479 --> 00:19:12,859 Speaker 1: is now known as Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia is concern. 351 00:19:12,939 --> 00:19:16,260 Speaker 1: They have put in place what you called the unbreakable, 352 00:19:16,270 --> 00:19:19,829 Speaker 1: which is a compliance system, a procedure to make sure 353 00:19:19,839 --> 00:19:23,449 Speaker 1: there's zero fatalities in all the scheduled commercial flights. They 354 00:19:23,459 --> 00:19:26,458 Speaker 1: have also moved the new facilities, the air traffic control 355 00:19:26,469 --> 00:19:29,699 Speaker 1: to KL A closer to where the action is and 356 00:19:29,709 --> 00:19:31,770 Speaker 1: I met the new CEO captain. No, 357 00:19:32,364 --> 00:19:35,154 Speaker 1: he's a former pilot with Malaysia Airlines for 30 years 358 00:19:35,223 --> 00:19:38,144 Speaker 1: and he told me about this compliance procedure. What's supposed 359 00:19:38,154 --> 00:19:42,092 Speaker 1: to do the radars now system is been upgraded and 360 00:19:42,104 --> 00:19:45,453 Speaker 1: enhanced overlapping. So if one is down, they can still 361 00:19:45,463 --> 00:19:48,802 Speaker 1: track where the plane is. And for example, the air 362 00:19:48,813 --> 00:19:52,173 Speaker 1: traffic controllers, they go through drills, they are supposed to 363 00:19:52,183 --> 00:19:56,203 Speaker 1: be constantly on watch and ready to act even when 364 00:19:56,213 --> 00:19:57,693 Speaker 1: no one is watching. But 365 00:19:57,787 --> 00:20:00,728 Speaker 1: changing the culture. He said it's something else. It's something 366 00:20:00,738 --> 00:20:02,758 Speaker 1: is a work in progress. It's something that Malaysia had 367 00:20:02,767 --> 00:20:05,567 Speaker 1: to work on. Olivia. Did you get any sense that 368 00:20:05,578 --> 00:20:09,838 Speaker 1: the Chinese resent Malaysia for what happened? Have people or 369 00:20:09,848 --> 00:20:12,967 Speaker 1: political ties been affected at all? Since the disappearance? 370 00:20:13,218 --> 00:20:17,307 Speaker 2: I think among the Chinese felonies, there's definitely still some 371 00:20:17,488 --> 00:20:22,397 Speaker 2: anger with regard to how Malaysian authorities handle a situation. 372 00:20:22,557 --> 00:20:23,447 Speaker 2: They feel that there was 373 00:20:23,541 --> 00:20:28,561 Speaker 2: this information or conflicting reports and they are upset that 374 00:20:28,571 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 2: Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government has stopped engaging them. 375 00:20:33,332 --> 00:20:37,921 Speaker 2: Some families, they continue to visit China's Ministry of Foreign 376 00:20:37,932 --> 00:20:43,521 Speaker 2: Affairs every week for the past decade in hopes of 377 00:20:43,531 --> 00:20:47,311 Speaker 2: getting answers or assistance. And this is something that they 378 00:20:47,321 --> 00:20:49,212 Speaker 2: have not been able to do is stop the business 379 00:20:49,296 --> 00:20:52,875 Speaker 2: during the pandemic, but it's something we continue to do. 380 00:20:53,015 --> 00:20:56,744 Speaker 2: And this time they wrote an open letter to the 381 00:20:56,755 --> 00:21:00,494 Speaker 2: Malaysian government and they are asking to meet the Malaysian 382 00:21:00,505 --> 00:21:04,786 Speaker 2: Prime Minister Ibrahim at least are hoping that with this 383 00:21:04,796 --> 00:21:08,416 Speaker 2: change in government that has taken place in this last 384 00:21:08,426 --> 00:21:11,796 Speaker 2: 10 years, that there will be a difference in how 385 00:21:11,965 --> 00:21:14,916 Speaker 2: Mh 370 is handled. 386 00:21:15,670 --> 00:21:18,770 Speaker 1: And before we go mel let's talk about the future 387 00:21:18,780 --> 00:21:22,300 Speaker 1: of Malaysia Airlines. It is not in the top 10 388 00:21:22,310 --> 00:21:25,169 Speaker 1: in terms of the sky tracks ranking, not even breaking 389 00:21:25,180 --> 00:21:28,250 Speaker 1: the top 40 for that matter, but its new CEO 390 00:21:28,260 --> 00:21:32,050 Speaker 1: vows to turn things around. Right? Well, it used to be, 391 00:21:32,060 --> 00:21:34,129 Speaker 1: it used to be a top 10 airlines in the 392 00:21:34,140 --> 00:21:37,099 Speaker 1: world and it was the country's pride and joy. I 393 00:21:37,109 --> 00:21:38,688 Speaker 1: remember when I was studying in the UK in the 394 00:21:38,699 --> 00:21:39,489 Speaker 1: nineties 395 00:21:39,802 --> 00:21:42,702 Speaker 1: every time, you know, before I landed in KL, every 396 00:21:42,712 --> 00:21:44,781 Speaker 1: time if I step into the plane, when I'm greeted 397 00:21:44,791 --> 00:21:47,541 Speaker 1: by the air stewardess, I felt home already before I 398 00:21:47,552 --> 00:21:50,452 Speaker 1: even had the si felt like I'm home. You know, 399 00:21:50,641 --> 00:21:54,452 Speaker 1: that was what Malaysia Airlines for many Malaysians. So now 400 00:21:54,462 --> 00:21:57,511 Speaker 1: it's 47 placing on the sky tracks ranking some said 401 00:21:57,521 --> 00:22:01,331 Speaker 1: the flag carrier has never truly recovered from the twin 402 00:22:01,342 --> 00:22:03,821 Speaker 1: tragedies in 2014. You remember form 403 00:22:04,134 --> 00:22:08,463 Speaker 1: after the I 370 disappearance, the M 17 was shot 404 00:22:08,473 --> 00:22:12,193 Speaker 1: down from the sky over eastern Ukraine in July. Unbelievable. 405 00:22:12,203 --> 00:22:14,683 Speaker 1: It was so surreal and here I was going to 406 00:22:14,693 --> 00:22:17,923 Speaker 1: the airport again for I 17. So it was just 407 00:22:17,933 --> 00:22:20,864 Speaker 1: the most horrible year for airline for Malaysia as a 408 00:22:20,874 --> 00:22:23,994 Speaker 1: whole and the nation was in shock and the airline 409 00:22:24,004 --> 00:22:27,913 Speaker 1: was technically bankrupt and taken private and downsize and then 410 00:22:28,066 --> 00:22:31,885 Speaker 1: came COVID-19 pandemic. It was another shake up. The airline 411 00:22:31,895 --> 00:22:35,316 Speaker 1: was restructured again. But today guess what? It has a 412 00:22:35,326 --> 00:22:40,095 Speaker 1: growing cash balance of 5 billion. That's over $1 billion.05 billion. 413 00:22:40,105 --> 00:22:43,436 Speaker 1: Bringing it now it has the means. Now the management 414 00:22:43,446 --> 00:22:45,645 Speaker 1: team is very young. I think they are all in 415 00:22:45,656 --> 00:22:48,744 Speaker 1: their forties or early fifties. They now have the money 416 00:22:48,755 --> 00:22:51,586 Speaker 1: they said to invest to upgrade on what they want 417 00:22:51,595 --> 00:22:52,086 Speaker 1: to do on the 418 00:22:52,196 --> 00:22:56,177 Speaker 1: customer services and improve on the quality of food, for example, 419 00:22:56,186 --> 00:22:58,708 Speaker 1: because Malaysia Airlines known for food, for its Nasi Lama 420 00:22:58,848 --> 00:23:02,328 Speaker 1: and for its and so on, you know, so and 421 00:23:02,338 --> 00:23:03,618 Speaker 1: then they hope that they can make it back to 422 00:23:03,628 --> 00:23:07,858 Speaker 1: top 10 by 2030. Now, aviation analysts are saying that 423 00:23:07,868 --> 00:23:11,047 Speaker 1: the airline has a shot a better shot without the 424 00:23:11,057 --> 00:23:14,686 Speaker 1: interference without any intervention from the government authorities, they probably 425 00:23:14,696 --> 00:23:16,208 Speaker 1: could have done a lot better. 426 00:23:16,849 --> 00:23:19,979 Speaker 1: 2014 was such a surreal year and it's really hard 427 00:23:19,989 --> 00:23:22,270 Speaker 1: to believe that so much time has passed. Thank you 428 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,329 Speaker 1: guys both so much for coming on today. Thank you, Teresa. 429 00:23:25,479 --> 00:23:27,909 Speaker 1: Be sure to check out the stories by Mel and 430 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,510 Speaker 1: Olivia on cna's youtube channel and CN A dot Asia. 431 00:23:31,589 --> 00:23:34,349 Speaker 1: And a reminder that the TV episodes of CN A 432 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:38,829 Speaker 1: correspondent air every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. This episode was 433 00:23:38,839 --> 00:23:42,270 Speaker 1: brought to you by Sya Nguyen Clara Ong Kristina Robert 434 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,409 Speaker 1: Craig Dale and myself, Theresa Tang. Thanks very much for 435 00:23:45,420 --> 00:23:45,969 Speaker 1: your company.