KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will shut down its MH370 Family Assistance Centres worldwide by May 7, as the company adjusts to the mode of services and support.
MAS Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said this was in line with the company’s commitment to continue its support to the families of the passenggers and crew of the missing MAS Flight MH370 aircraft.
“From past experience, we understand the continuing search and investigation will be a prolonged process. Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 passengers are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by MAS, within the comfort of their home, with the support and care of their families and friends,” he said in a statement here today.
The MH370 Family Assistance Centres were established by MAS as the focal point for all activities which were planned for the families of the passengers and crew of Flight MH370, including briefings, religious activities and prayer services.
Ahmad Jauhari (pic) said MAS would keep in close touch with the families on news updates through telephone calls, messages, the internet and face-to-face meetings.
He said family support centres would be established in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing and the detailed plan of follow-up support and services would be relayed in person to the affected families.
He added, MAS would make advanced compensation payments at the soonest possible date to the nominated next-of-kin entitled to claim compesation, in order to meet their immediate economic needs.
He said the payment would not affect the rights of the next-of-kin to claim compesation, according to the law at a later stage and would be calculated as part of the final compesation.
“Immediately after the next-of-kin have returned home, our representatives will be in touch with them at the earliest opportunity to initiate the advanced compesation payment process.”
The hunt for the missing Boeing 777-200ER aircraft has entered the second month since its disappearance on March 8.
The airliner carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew went missing while on its flight to Beijing about an hour after departing from the KL International Airport at 12.41am.
It was to have landed in Beijing at 6.30am the same day. Seventeen days later, the flight path of MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean. The search for the aircraft continues.
— BERNAMA
