Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has dismissed speculation of the US Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) involvement in causing MH370’s disappearance.

“If there is, I don’t think we will see such a strong presence of the US here,” he said referring to the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition and conference.

He was speaking at a press conference after inspecting preparations for the two-day event that begins tomorrow at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

He was asked to comment an Utusan Malaysia piece that  linked the CIA to MH370's disappearance in a bid to sour ties between Malaysia and China.

“Like any Western media too, they are free to report what they like to report.

"But at the end of the day, if their reporting is false, they lose credibility,” he added.

Earlier at the press conference Hishammuddin elaborated on the “very strong US presence” at the DSA, saying he will be having a meeting with two US generals in the sidelines that includes US Marine Corps Commandant James F Amos.

What IGP meant by 'cleared'

To a question, Hishammuddin also clarified his earlier statement said to contradict the inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar’s statement that the passengers on-board MH370 had been cleared of any suspicion .

He said what Khalid had meant was that investigations on the passengers have not turned up anything suspicious with regards to the four areas of investigation so far, at the time when the police chief said the passengers had been ‘cleared’ of suspicion.

The four areas are the possibility of hijacking, sabotage, personal problems, or psychological problems of the passengers or crew.

However he stressed that investigations are ongoing.

“I don’t think the IGP would have meant that they have all been cleared, because unless we find more information - specifically the data in the black box - I don’t think any chief of police would be in a position to say they have been cleared,” said the minister.