07/01/2026

WEDNESDAY | JAN 7, 2026

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Elusive search for MH370 continues

Umno, BN staying put in Unity govt: Zahid

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished, renewed searches in the southern Indian Ocean highlight just how complex locating the aircraft remains, even with major advances in technology. Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School aviation expert Assoc Prof Major Dr Mohd Harridon Mohamed Suffian said the biggest obstacle has always been the lack of a confirmed crash site. “The primary predicament is identifying the exact location of the wreckage,” he said, adding that investigators can only estimate possible locations rather than pinpoint a single site. Those estimated areas stretch across vast sections of the southern Indian Ocean, making any search operation inherently arduous, time-consuming and costly.” While new underwater robots and autonomous vehicles have enhanced deep-sea search capabilities, Mohd Harridon said technology alone cannot guarantee success. “The data collected must be interpreted to provide a meaningful representation of the ocean floor. “The interpretation must be astute and holistic to avoid mistaking natural seabed features for man made objects,” he said, stressing that both sensor quality and analytical models must continue to improve to create an accurate picture of the underwater environment. “With no confirmed crash coordinates, search teams rely heavily on mathematical modelling to focus their efforts.” Mohd Harridon said various models can be used depending on the type and quality of available data, including optimisation approaches such as genetic algorithms. However, he cautioned that modelling results remain approximations. “The integration of mathematical models is not an absolute solution – the results are still estimates of the situation.” The most credible search strategies, he added, combine multiple sources, including satellite data, drift analysis, wind patterns, engineering calculations and qualitative human information. “All data from diverse sources should be combined to form a panoramic outlook of the tragedy.” Satellite data and drift models have been pivotal in narrowing Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Institute of Oceanography and Environment director Prof Dr Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir said the operation, led by Ocean Infinity, could mark the third major effort to uncover the fate of the unfortunate plane. “Ocean Infinity is one of the world’s leading companies specialising in underwater search and ocean exploration. They are deploying their latest technology, which accelerates deep-sea searches that previously took much longer. “Searching underwater objects on the seabed, especially in very deep areas, is extremely difficult. The

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

He added that environmental factors further complicate the search. “If you go south in the search area, conditions can be rough, with high swells making the ship and equipment’s work more difficult.” Above all, Mohd Fadzil stressed that pinpointing the correct search area is critical. “There are many aspects to consider, but the most important is whether you are looking in the right place. “That is what this operation is trying to determine. Most experts believe there may be new information pointing to a location we did not know before – whether it proves correct or not.” – By Harith Kamal PETALING JAYA: Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) will remain in the Unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday. Zahid, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, said the commitment made from the outset when Umno and BN agreed to join the Unity government in Dec 2022, remains unchanged. He stressed that the party would not be involved in any backdoor manoeuvres to topple the government. “My position and that of the party has been clear from the beginning. The party will not engage in tebuk atap (undermine or orchestrate a collapse) manoeuvres against the current government. We will stand together with the Unity government until the end of its term – and it will be a full term before the 16th general election is held,” he told reporters after attending the Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s New Year address. Zahid said the matter was discussed during Umno’s political bureau meeting on Monday, following a proposal by Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh last Saturday calling on the party to withdraw from the government and assume the role of the Opposition. He said no final decision had been made on the proposal. “The decision, if taken, will be a major one. Insya Allah when the time comes, we will announce it,” he said, adding that even if Umno and BN were to withdraw their support, the Unity government would not collapse as it currently commands the backing of 153 MPs. Zahid said the meeting also discussed the possibility of reestablishing cooperation between Umno–BN and opposition parties, particularly between Umno and PAS. He said Umno did not wish to repeat past mistakes by forging cooperation with opposition parties at this time. “Any decision would be examined thoroughly and cautiously.This is to ensure the party is not ‘bitten by the same snake for the second time in the same place’.“

across different pieces of evidence. For the victims’ families, renewed searches inevitably rekindle hope. However, he warned that extreme ocean depths, harsh conditions and the physical strain on autonomous vehicles impose limits on what any search can achieve. “Each renewed attempt represents another step towards answers in one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries.” On Dec 30 last year, Texas-based Ocean Infinity resumed seabed searches for 55 days, targeting areas deemed most likely to yield the aircraft. The operation, under a service agreement with the Malaysian government, is on a “no find, no fee” basis, meaning Malaysia bears no cost if no wreckage is found. If debris is recovered, the company would receive US$70 million (RM283.7 million), the same terms proposed in 2018 when Ocean Infinity first conducted the search.

o Finding the aircraft wreckage remains one of aviation’s hardest challenges, as vast oceans, missing crash coordinates and imperfect data limit even the most advanced technology: Expert

mysterious incident. “Deformation patterns on parts such as wings or the radome (radar dome) could reveal the impact angle, speed, force of impact and whether the descent was controlled or uncontrolled. “The distribution and scatter radius of debris on the ocean floor could also offer clues about the nature of the crash.” He stressed that discovering multiple interconnected components allows investigators to verify findings

search zones, he said. “Investigators must continually eliminate implausible search areas to avoid wasting time and resources. “Structured evaluation tools such as the Pugh Matrix which compares multiple options against set criteria, could help prioritise zones with the highest probability of success.” Mohd Harridon said even fragments of the aircraft could provide critical insights. “Components and physical parts could relay valuable narratives of the

A young visitor looks on at the MH370 wall of memories at Publika, Kuala Lumpur, as renewed searches for the wreckage in the southern Indian Ocean revive questions and hopes. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

Cutting-edge deep-sea tech carries high expectations in hunt for plane PETALING JAYA: The renewed search for MH370 is not merely another attempt to locate the missing aircraft, but it is also a high-stakes test of the latest underwater technology. Mohd Fadzil stressed that searching the deep ocean remains highly challenging. sit between seamounts or rugged terrain, which makes interpreting the data challenging.”

On the role of ocean modelling, he noted its importance has waned. “Ocean models were very useful in the early years, around 2014 to 2015 but teams now rely more on satellite data, which can capture acoustic and environmental signals revealing previously unseen clues.” He also highlighted the value of biological analysis from recovered debris. “When the plane’s flaperon (a specialised type of aircraft flight control surface that combine aspects of both flaps and ailerons which responds to roll commands) was found after nearly two years, marine organisms were stuck on it. “Studying these can indicate whether the species come from a certain area, providing additional clues.” Despite technological advances,

ocean is vast, incredibly deep and conditions are complex. Updating technology allows them to tackle these challenges more effectively.” He added that the operation also doubles as a showcase of Ocean Infinity’s capabilities. “This may serve as a marketing strategy to demonstrate that Ocean Infinity is a leading company in this technology and fully capable of such complex operations.” Mohd Fadzil said the renewed search could be driven by fresh leads, particularly from satellite data. “There are a few important pieces of information that can be extracted from satellites that may not have been available before. “With this data, teams can analyse datasets and target specific locations that might yield fresh insights.”

“One difficulty is scanning very deep areas with rugged terrain. Current equipment must move slowly when towed for scanning. But with Ocean Infinity’s new technology, the process can likely be sped up. Essentially, this operation tests and refines their latest tools.” Mohd Fadzil said interpreting seabed data presents another hurdle. “It’s not like seeing an actual image. What they get from the seabed is a signal, which is processed to show the spike or shape of the seabed. From that, they try to determine whether features are natural or man-made. “Aircraft are large, so they’re unlikely to be missed, but they could