An influential figure in Malaysia’s ruling party has claimed crucial information about missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is being concealed by the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency.<\/p>\n
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former Malaysian prime minister, said the current search off the coast of western Australia is a waste of time and money.<\/p>\n
“The plane is somewhere, maybe without MAS [Malaysia Airlines] markings,” he said. “It is a waste of time and money to look for debris or oil slick or to listen for pings from the black box.”<\/p>\n
Dr Mahathir added that the plane’s disappearance on 8 March was “most likely not an ordinary crash after fuel was exhausted”.<\/p>\n
Dr Mahathir, now aged 88, was prime minister for 22 years from 1981.<\/p>\n
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, he wrote in his personal blog that it was unlikely that the \u00a0“pilots made a soft landing in rough seas and then quietly went down with the aircraft.”<\/p>\n
“Someone is hiding something. It is not fair that MAS and Malaysia should take the blame,” he added.<\/p>\n