Compensation not yet offered to MH370 passengers

Compensation for the 239 passengers and crew of the vanished Malaysian airlines flight has not yet been considered, a top official said here Sunday as the search stretched into the ninth day.

Malaysian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya told reporters that only immediate financial assistance is being given to the families of the passengers and crew on the flight that disappeared last Saturday.

"Right now we are giving immediate financial assistance. We have not looked at compensation until we know exactly what happened to the flight,"he said.

The statement came amid reports that some families of passengers have been offered small compensation or asked to sign off on documents.

The passengers and crew are still under scrutiny by Malaysian officials with the assistance of international intelligence agencies but Malaysian Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar insisted that so far no suspects have emerged.

"There are still a few more background evaluations to be completed but at this point we have agreed that the two passengers traveling on stolen passports are not hijackers," Bakar said.

Malaysia's Transportation Minister Hishamuddin Hussein also dismissed criticism that airport security was inefficient.

"I cannot agree with the claim that airport security was inadequate. All due processors were followed and there is no indication that there were oversights in the normal procedure," he said in response to questions from reporters, adding that ground staff connected to MH370 would also be investigated.

The Malaysian government on Sunday said appeals have been made to 25 countries to provide satellite information, radar playback as well as aircraft and ships to continue the ever-expanding search.