KUALA LUMPUR
Australia will announce Thursday the new search area for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, as no trace of the plane has been found over the last three months.
Malaysian Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussien said Tuesday, "After discussions with Australian and Chinese counterparts, we should be announcing the new area of search on Thursday.”
"This is something that we have done while looking and discussing with experts from around the world," he said, adding that the announcement would be made by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.
Hishammuddin, however, did not provide information about the new search area.
He stressed that the tripartite cooperation would address all allegations regarding conspiracies or the hiding of facts.
The minister also ensured that operations would continue with the cooperation of all 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, as well as the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
"The countries have committed to help the search on paper. We are very thankful to them," he added.
Beijing-bound MH370 vanished March 8 with 239 people on board. Based on satellite data, the flight was believed to have deviated from its original pathway before ending in the southern Indian Ocean.
Despite the most intensive search in commercial aviation history, Malaysia's efforts have been heavily criticized by media and the family of passengers.
Australia has committed up to US$84 million towards the search for the missing aircraft over two years, but Malaysia has said the amount is purely a "ceiling price."
