Malaysia has yet to decide on whether the preliminary report on the MH370 incident submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will be made public.

 

"We have issued the preliminary report. We've sent it to ICAO but we have not made a decision to release to media or the public," Department of Civil Aviation Chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Asked again on why it will not be released to public, although it is common practice, he reiterated: "It was sent to ICAO within a month as required by ICAO, but not (released) publicly yet."

 

However,  acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein , in responding to a separate question, said that all investigation reports will be made public eventually. 

 

"(We will) definitely (release it). With public interest globally, there is no way we can avoid from making it public," he told reporters.

"But that information that will be made public, let it come from a credible, transparent, and also independent source," he said referring to an international panel of experts to be appointed next week.

 

Earlier in the press conference, Hishammuddin announced that the cabinet has approved the formation of the panel and the Ministry of Transport has been tasked to draft its terms of reference.

 

"The main purpose of the International Investigation Team is to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the incident so similar incidents could be avoided in the future.

 

"I would also like to note that the investigation will not include criminal aspects, which are under the purview of the Royal Malaysian Police,” he said, adding that the investigation will be carried out in accordance to the Civil Aviation Regulation 1966 and the international treaty know as Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention.

 

It is also under Annex 13 - which deals with the investigation and reporting of air accidents - where countries investigating such incidents are required to provide a preliminary report within 30 days to ICAO and other stakeholders, such as the country where the aircraft involved was designed and manufactured, and countries that have provided relevant expertise and information.

 

The investigation team will comprise of three working groups: an airworthiness group, an operational group, and a medical and human factors group.

 

"I mentioned to the Malaysian cabinet this morning that we have no problems getting people to agree to come on board (the investigation), because everybody wants to go and be a part of this unprecedented incident," he added.

 

Additional reporting by Aidila Razak .