Next-of-kin to sue MAS, govt over MH370

PETALING JAYA: A relative of a passenger on board flight MH370 is suing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and several bodies under the Malaysian government for their alleged roles in the tragedy.
Represented by Messrs Rusma Arunan and Associates, the next-of-kin of Jee Jing Hang is suing for breach of contract and negligence by MAS, and negligence by the Civil Aviation Department (DCA), Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Malaysian government through vicarious liability.
A statement by the law firm said that despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's declaration that MH370 had "ended" in the southern Indian Ocean, the next-of-kin, who is also the guardian to Jee's two underage children, remain in the dark and is in despair over the many unanswered questions about the tragedy.
The family's predicament is made worse by differing, contradicting and unsubstantiated opinions and statements that have surfaced since the plane disappeared on March 8, the firm added.
When contacted, co-counsel Gary E. Chong said he is not at liberty to reveal information and the legal team will disclose the necessary when the suit is filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry tomorrow.
Flight MH370 disappeared from civilian radar enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, prompting a massive search and rescue operation involving 26 nations that scoured the South China Sea and now the Indian Ocean.
The jet, with 227 passengers and 12 crew members, left KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8, and disappeared about an hour later while over the South China Sea.
It is estimated by the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) in Australia that debris from MH370 will likely wash up on the coast of Indonesia soon and the relevant authorities have been told to keep a look out.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also recently commented that he is confident that the plane would be found due to the sophisticated technology being used to locate it.