KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Armed Forces is prepared to give a hand to Indonesia on its search for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501.
Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysian Ministry of Defence and the Malaysian Armed Forces are prepared to provide any assistance required by Indonesia.
“I have instructed the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, and the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), General Datuk Seri Roslan Saad to remain in close contact with their Indonesian counterparts for any further developments,” he said in a statement today.
“I have also spoken to the Indonesian Defence Minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu, in which I noted that in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, we are ready to be of service if needed by the Indonesian Government,” he said in a statement today.
Hishammuddin said that this includes the deployment of a RMAF C130 Aircraft to assist Indonesia with the search and rescue efforts for QZ8501.
Additionally, three Royal Malaysian Navy ships, the KD Pahang, KD Lekir and KD Lekiu, with a Fennec Helicopter onboard, will also join the search efforts.
“The Ministry of Defence and the Malaysian Armed Forces' primary objective at present remains to focus on the flood relief efforts along the Malaysian East Coast,” he stressed.
Hishammuddin also said that he had also spoken to Singapore’s Defence Minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen on the assistance in search for the missing flight and reaffirm Malaysia’s commitment in the search and rescue efforts.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the passengers, crew members and families of all on board QZ8501,” he said.