Latest developments:
- The International Investigation Team is considering starting its investigation from scratch
Cost of search yet to be determined
4.27pm:
Malaysia has yet to determine the overall cost of the search operation for Flight MH370, Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi tells Dewan Negara.
The search effort has been described as the largest operation in aviation history.
"So far, 26 countries, 89 aircraft, 80 ships, several satellites, a submarine and an autonomous underwater vehicle have been involved in the operation," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .
Kaprawi says the cost will be shared by all countries involved.
No findings at end of Bluefin's 8th mission
11.20am: The Joint Agency Coordination Centre said in a statement the Bluefin-21 AUV completed Mission 8 in the underwater search area this morning, after having searched some two-thirds of the focused underwater search area, but made no contact. It covered a 10km radium around the second Towed Pinger locator detection that detected the signal on April 8.
Bluefin will commence its Mission 9 later today.
The agency is also putting up 10 military aircraft and 11 ships to assist in today's search for MH370, which is 1,741km northwest of Perth.
Today's search today would be hindered by the expected deteriorating weather conditions as Tropical Cyclone Jack continues with its move southwards, with thunderstorms and heavy showers expected.
Boeing 777 did not end in Indian Ocean?
11.10am: Quoting sources from the International Investigation Team (IIT), the New Straits Times reports that IIT is looking into the possibility of starting its investigation from scratch, including the possibility the Boeing 777-200ER did not end up in the Southern Indian Ocean.
"We may have to regroup soon look into this possibility if no positive results come back in the next few days... but at the same time the search mission in the Indian Ocean must go on.
"The thought of it landing somewhere else is not impossible, as we have not found a single debris that could could be linked to MH370.
"However, the possibility of a specific country hiding the plane when more than 20 nations are searching for it, seems absurd," the IIT source told the daily.
The IIT also said it is looking into adding more assets to be deployed to the existing search area in the Indian Ocean, as well as widening the search area as it fears the plane is being searched in the wrong place.
It is also looking for more information to be provided, including data from the relevant satellites and also from the the Australian Joint Defence Facility, Pine Gap, in Alice Spring in the Northern Territory.
What is gov't hiding, Anwar asks again
11am: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim goes to the ground to criticise the government's apparent lack of transparency in the Flight 370 probe.
Referring to the cargo manifest, he asked: "How long does the government and MAS want to withhold information? Why are they afraid?"
Relooking search area next step
10.27am: Australia's ambassador to the US Kim Beazley reveals in an interview with CNN the nature of the "regroup and reconsider" authorities are touting if they still fail to find the aircraft after the "critical juncture".
In terms of analysis, Beazley says it may require a reassessment of the mathematical calculation used to pinpoint the source of Flight MH370's pings that had helped established the current search area in the Indian Ocean.
For assets, he says it will include adjusting air and sea surface assets including the possibility of bringing in private contractors to replace some military assets.
"Obviously that's one of the things you're going to consider. You may well also consider bringing in other underwater search equipment," Beazley is quoted as saying.
On who would pay the private contractors, Beazley says, "That would be a decision taken by the Australian government in an environment of great generosity."
Family objects to premature death cert
10.03am: Putrajaya's suggestion to issue death certificates for the victims have not gone down well with certain family members who refuse to believe their loved ones are dead after 45 days since the plane went missing.
"Mohamad Nizam Mustafa says the move did not make sense, as there has yet to be concrete evidence that his brother Suhaili Mustafa who was on board the plane was killed.
"Until now, the family is still very hopeful for Sahaili's safe return... this (issuance of a death certificate) cannot happen because the search is not over," he is quoted saying in a Berita Harian report today.
SAR at critical juncture
9.30am : It has been 45 days since Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 went missing but not a piece of the aircraft's debris has been discovered despite a multinational search operation in the Indian Ocean.
Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddi Hussein had last Saturday said the next 48 hours was a " critical juncture " as searchers will need to "regroup and reconsider" if they still fail to find the plane.
Today is the last day of that "critical juncture".
Background:
- The Beijing-bound Boeing 777-200ER aircraft went missing not long after taking off from KL International Airport in the early hours of March 8, with 12 crew members and 227 passengers.
