MH370 sessions in China yield consensus
Chew Mei FunPublished: Apr 2, 2014 10:27 AM | Updated: Apr 2, 2014 10:30 AM
On March 28, 2014, acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein informed me that I have been appointed by the cabinet to be a special envoy to comfort the next of kin of passengers on board MH370 in China. Immediately, I commenced following up on the issue and was briefed by the Transport Ministry.
On March 30, 2014, I deployed 48 members from the MCA crisis relief squad to provide support and aid to the 29 Chinese nationals’ next of kin who came to Malaysia.
From March 31 to April 1, 2014, I had also accompanied the delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainudin to meet the Chinese officials in China, which included Executive Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs-cum-special envoy of the government of China H.E. Zhang Yesui and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Xie Hangsheng, who is also the point of contact between the Malaysian Embassy and the Chinese authorities.
We attended a meeting of the MH370 family members committee with the Chinese State Council deputy secretary-general Xiao Yaqing, as well as a follow-up meeting with the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Consular Department director-general Huang Ping and deputy director-general Zhai Leiming.
During the meeting with the family members committee, on behalf of the Malaysian government, I had extended our highest concern to the next of kin and that we shared their pain and losses. We also hope to further improve our care and counselling services to the families.
Both quarters agreed that the MH370 incident is a challenge that Malaysia and China should face hand-in-hand. We need to strengthen the communication between the two nations to effectively handle the crisis. The cordial relationship between our two nations will not be affected but further improved and enhanced through the incident.
Various types of support identified
We agreed that other than strengthening the search and rescue operations as well as investigation work, we should also pay high attention to the support provided to the next of kin and that it should be done professionally and comprehensively.
We held a sincere and in-depth meeting on how to assist the next of kin. We have identified various forms of support to be rendered to the families and relatives which include: helping them to formulate resolutions for potential development from the incident, daily counseling, medical services, legal consultation, etc.
We have reached a preliminary consensus on how to strengthen the communication, coordination and the need for action as well as issues faced by the next of kin in getting assistance.
After processing the outcome the meetings, we will talk to the government to formulate a more comprehensive caring programme for the families and relatives to ensure that they are well taken care of.
CHEW MEI FUN is MH370 special envoy to China, MCA vice-president, and MCA social development committee chairperson.
On March 30, 2014, I deployed 48 members from the MCA crisis relief squad to provide support and aid to the 29 Chinese nationals’ next of kin who came to Malaysia.
From March 31 to April 1, 2014, I had also accompanied the delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainudin to meet the Chinese officials in China, which included Executive Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs-cum-special envoy of the government of China H.E. Zhang Yesui and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Xie Hangsheng, who is also the point of contact between the Malaysian Embassy and the Chinese authorities.
We attended a meeting of the MH370 family members committee with the Chinese State Council deputy secretary-general Xiao Yaqing, as well as a follow-up meeting with the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Consular Department director-general Huang Ping and deputy director-general Zhai Leiming.
During the meeting with the family members committee, on behalf of the Malaysian government, I had extended our highest concern to the next of kin and that we shared their pain and losses. We also hope to further improve our care and counselling services to the families.
Both quarters agreed that the MH370 incident is a challenge that Malaysia and China should face hand-in-hand. We need to strengthen the communication between the two nations to effectively handle the crisis. The cordial relationship between our two nations will not be affected but further improved and enhanced through the incident.
Various types of support identified
We agreed that other than strengthening the search and rescue operations as well as investigation work, we should also pay high attention to the support provided to the next of kin and that it should be done professionally and comprehensively.
We held a sincere and in-depth meeting on how to assist the next of kin. We have identified various forms of support to be rendered to the families and relatives which include: helping them to formulate resolutions for potential development from the incident, daily counseling, medical services, legal consultation, etc.
We have reached a preliminary consensus on how to strengthen the communication, coordination and the need for action as well as issues faced by the next of kin in getting assistance.
After processing the outcome the meetings, we will talk to the government to formulate a more comprehensive caring programme for the families and relatives to ensure that they are well taken care of.
CHEW MEI FUN is MH370 special envoy to China, MCA vice-president, and MCA social development committee chairperson.
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