New hope for MH370 next-of-kin on Ocean Infinity search mission

PUTRAJAYA: There is a ray of hope for the next-of-kin of passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 to find closure following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and United States-based Ocean Infinity Limited to begin a new quest for the ill-fated jetliner which vanished in 2014.
Shin Kok Chau, husband of MH370 passenger Tan Ser Kuin, who was present at the signing of the MoU today at the Transport Ministry here, remained "very hopeful" of finding the plane and solving the mystery which still haunted him and his family.
He also thanked the Malaysian Government for not giving up hope of finding the missing jetliner and continuously offering support as well as information regarding MH370.
"I would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, and all ministries and agencies involved in the new search for MH370, and for the last four years.
"This news came as a relief to me and my family. I hope this operation team will be able to find something to give us closure," Shin, 42, told reporters when met after the ceremony here.
Earlier, the Malaysian Government and Ocean Infinity, a seabed exploration company inked a deal to search for the missing MH370 in the middle of this month, whereby the Seabed Constructor vessel would cover an area of 25,000 sq km within 90 days.
The search was based on 'no cure, no fee,' which meant that payment would only be made when the debris of the missing jetliner was found and confirmed by a third party.
Expressing similar sentiments, V. P. R. Nathan, whose wife Anne Daisy was on the aircraft which disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, said it was difficult to come to terms without knowing what had happened to the families and their flight.
"We do not aim for anything but we just want closure and want to know what happened. I thank the Malaysian Government for not giving up on us and the MH370, and Ocean Infinity for this initiative to use its technology and own expenses to locate the wreckage. It has been four years to suffer without any clue on this," he said.
Jacquita Gonzales still has hopes her childhood sweetheart husband Patrick Gomes, the lead steward onboard the ill-fated flight will come home one day. — Bernama