No concrete evidence linking MH370 pilot to murder-suicide, says IGP

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 -- There is no solid evidence indicating that the pilot of the missing MH370 aircraft may have committed a mass murder-suicide, as alleged by former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott in a documentary, said Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.

The documentary will reportedly be aired today by an international broadcaster, while a preview has been released.

Abdul Hamid said the determination of the absence of concrete evidence was based on investigations conducted by Malaysian police which had considered all possible investigative angles, following the disappearance of the aircraft.

“As long as the aircraft (MH370) is not found, the true cause of its disappearance cannot be determined.

"To date, we have not found the aircraft, let alone the people who were the passengers of the aircraft," he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre here today.

Abdul Hamid also said he did not know who the top-level Malaysian official was, whom Abbott had claimed to have received information from.

"On our part, at the time, I was personally involved in the investigation into the disappearance of MH370, and we were investigating it from all aspects, including terrorism, hijacking by certain parties, as well as various other theories involving the use of advanced technology, and much facts had been gathered," he said.

He said Abbott had the right to state his position to the media based on the information he claimed to have received.

“It was part of his privilege as prime minister (of Australia) at the time. 

"On behalf of the police and based on the laws, I cannot make any comment as long as the MH370 aircraft is not found, but we are ready to reopen the investigation if the plane is discovered," he said.

Previously, the international media had quoted Abbott, who was Australia’s prime minister in 2014, as saying that Malaysia’s top leadership had informed him then that the disappearance of MH370 was due to suicide and mass murder committed by the pilot.

The MH370 aircraft carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members disappeared from radar screens while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

-- BERNAMA