Woke up with heavy heart like majority of Malaysians as MH370 tragedy enters third day with nothing to go on about the mysterious disappearance of the aircraft and 239 persons on board

I woke up this morning with a heavy heart like the majority of Malaysians with the news that over 50 hours have passed since MH370 was reported lost from radar and there is nothing to go on as to what happened to the 239 passengers and crew of the Boeing B777-200 aircraft on its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

There has been no confirmed signs of wreckage or debris, no distress signal from the aircraft before it lost contact with ground control, and no clear indication that the plane had experienced any technical failure in mid-air.

Hopes of Malaysians and people around the world who prayed for the safety and a miracle to ensure that the 239 people on board MH370 could survive their mysterious disappearance have become more and more tenuous.

This has brought home the stark reality that something terrible had in fact happened to the aircraft and the 239 passengers and crew although the international search and rescue (SAR) operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane with 239 on board has intensified.

Regardless of political affiliation, race, religion or nationality, all concerned Malaysians and like-minded people world-wide, particularly in the 14 countries whose citizens are on board, should come together as one unit to continue to give support and strength to the families, relatives and friends of the 239 passengers and crew members in their hour of greatest sorrow, trial and tribulations.

With the MH 370 tragedy and mystery entering the third day, there are more and more questions whether about crisis management, the disappearance of the aircraft or the rescue and search operation.

But all these questions should be put aside as they should wait as efforts are focused on finding the aircraft and giving support and strength to the affected families, relatives and friends of the 239 people on board.

For this reason, I will not make any comments, criticisms or responses (including to misconceived or malicious charges against me) for these two days.

Let us focus all our thoughts and prayers on the 239 persons on board MH 370 and their aggrieved families, relatives and friends.

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah