M'sia minister debunks plane hijack theory

Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. Photo: The Star

Malaysia has dismissed claims in a foreign media report that flight MH370 was hijacked by terrorists and its 239 passengers including crew are being held against their will at an unknown location.

Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said there is no truth to such unverified report. 
"Such unverified report and rumours will disrupt our search and rescue operation.
"Irresponsible act such as this will affect the family as well," he told a press conference Thursday. 
Foreign media reported that US investigators are pursuing the possibility that missing Boeing 777-200ER with 239 passengers and crew are being held against their will at an unknown location.
The Wall Street Journal was among those which published sensational claims that American counter-terrorism officials now believed somebody on board deliberately turned off the plane’s transponders to avoid radar detection.
Hishammuddin also said that the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia confirmed that the publication of satellite images in the media claiming that debris of the plane was found in the South China Sea was not sanctioned by the Chinese government.
"He reiterated to me that the Chinese government will inform their Malaysia counterparts first if such important information is obtained," he added.