Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s statement which was read out at a press conference on Mar 15, 2014.

“Seven days ago Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared. We realise this is an excruciating time for the families of those on board. No words can describe the pain they must be going through. Our thoughts and our prayers are with them.

I have been appraised of the on-going search operation round the clock. At the beginning of the operation, I ordered the search area to be broadened; I instructed the Malaysian authorities to share all relevant information freely and transparently with the wider investigation team; and I requested that our friends and allies join the operation. As of today, 14 countries, 43 ships and 58 aircraft are involved in the search. I wish to thank all the governments for their help at such a crucial time.

Since day one, the Malaysian authorities have worked hand-in-hand with our international partners – including neighbouring countries, the aviation authorities and a multinational search force – many of whom have been here on the ground since Sunday.

We have shared information in real time with authorities who have the necessary experience to interpret the data. We have been working nonstop to assist the investigation. And we have put our national security second to the search for the missing plane.

It is widely understood that this has been a situation without precedent.

We have conducted search operations over land, in the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean. At every stage, we acted on the basis of verified information, and we followed every credible lead. Sometimes these leads have led nowhere.

There has been intense speculation. We understand the desperate need for information on behalf of the families and those watching around the world. But we have a responsibility to the investigation and the families to only release information that has been corroborated. And our primary motivation has always been to find the plane.

In the first phase of the search operation, we searched near MH370’s last known position, in the South China Sea. At the same time, it was brought to our attention by the Royal Malaysian Air Force that, based on their primary radar, an aircraft – the identity of which could not be confirmed – made a turn back. The primary radar data showed the aircraft proceeding on a flight path which took it to an area north of the Straits of Malacca.

Given this credible data, which was subsequently corroborated with the relevant international authorities, we expanded the area of search to include the Straits of Malacca and, later, to the Andaman Sea.

Early this morning I was briefed by the investigation team – which includes the FAA, NTSB, the AAIB, the Malaysian authorities and the Acting Minister of Transport – on new information that sheds further light on what happened to MH370.

Based on new satellite information, we can say with a high degree of certainty that the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) was disabled just before the aircraft reached the East coast of peninsular Malaysia. Shortly afterwards, near the border between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic control, the aircraft’s transponder was switched off.

From this point onwards, the Royal Malaysian Air Force primary radar showed that an aircraft which was believed – but not confirmed – to be MH370 did indeed turn back. It then flew in a westerly direction back over peninsular Malaysia before turning northwest. Up until the point at which it left military primary radar coverage, these movements are consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane.

Today, based on raw satellite data that was obtained from the satellite data service provider, we can confirm that the aircraft shown in the primary radar data was flight MH370. After much forensic work and deliberation, the FAA, NTSB, AAIB and the Malaysian authorities, working separately on the same data, concur.

According to the new data, the last confirmed communication between the plane and the satellite was at 8:11AM Malaysian time on Saturday 8th March. The investigations team is making further calculations which will indicate how far the aircraft may have flown after this last point of contact. This will help us to refine the search.
Due to the type of satellite data, we are unable to confirm the precise location of the plane when it last made contact with the satellite.

However, based on this new data, the aviation authorities of Malaysia and their international counterparts have determined that the plane’s last communication with the satellite was in one of two possible corridors: a northern corridor stretching approximately from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern corridor stretching approximately from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. The investigation team is working to further refine the information.

In view of this latest development the Malaysian authorities have refocused their investigation into the crew and passengers on board. Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear: we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate from its original flight path.

This new satellite information has a significant impact on the nature and scope of the search operation. We are ending our operations in the South China Sea and reassessing the redeployment of our assets. We are working with the relevant countries to request all information relevant to the search, including radar data.

As the two new corridors involve many countries, the relevant foreign embassies have been invited to a briefing on the new information today by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry and the technical experts. I have also instructed the Foreign Ministry to provide a full briefing to foreign governments which had passengers on the plane. This morning, Malaysia Airlines has been informing the families of the passengers and crew of these new developments.

Clearly, the search for MH370 has entered a new phase. Over the last seven days, we have followed every lead and looked into every possibility. For the families and friends of those involved, we hope this new information brings us one step closer to finding the plane.

(The Star)

【马总理纳吉布发表声明要点】在刚刚结束的马方发布会持续大致12分钟，要点如下：①客机的联络系统被人为关闭；②可能折返，可能是蓄意而为的结果；③客机最后一次联系时间是马来西亚时间8时11分；④仍在调查是否存在劫机可能性；⑤目前还无法确认失联飞机的最后位置。
据央视报道，马来西亚政府于15日下午在吉隆坡举行发布会，马来西亚总理纳吉布出席。马方总理在发布会上表示，有关于偏离航向的说法，目前不能完全证明，但他认为军方再马来半岛西北方检测到的飞机就是MH370。现在有种很大可能性，飞机的应答系统被人为关闭了。哈萨克斯坦、土库曼斯坦一直延伸到泰国以及印度尼西亚到南印度洋这两个走廊地带很可能是飞机前往的方向。
纳吉布表示，目前南海已经停止搜索、正在安达曼等地区展开搜救行动。14个国家60艘舰船70多飞机参与搜救，向他们表示感谢。他要求军方跟世界上其他国家分享信息，支持其他国家的救援行动。
纳吉布称，美国航空局以及其他组织的推测给我们带来一些新的信息和线索。根据最新迹象表明，现在有种很大可能性，飞机的应答系统被人为关闭了。当时飞机刚到马来西亚东岸，就在马来和越南之间被关闭。根据空中雷达数据，我们相信它是mh370，我们相信它折返往西行进，但我们不能确定。我们现在跟许多国际组织协作，搜索马六甲海峡北部一直到其他区域。
纳吉布称，我们在那里的雷达覆盖是有限的。但很有可能飞机遭到人为改变航向。我们可以确认往西行进的航班就是失联航班。最后飞机能确定的联络是在当地时间8:11。根据这些数据，我们无法肯定信号消失之后飞机飞了多久，飞向哪里。但根据卫星数据，哈萨克斯坦、土库曼斯坦一直延伸到泰国以及印度尼西亚到南印度洋这两个走廊地带很可能是飞机前往的方向。
纳吉布称，对于MH370偏离航道的原因，任何可能都有，现在还在调查阶段。马方仍在调查马航失联的MH370航班被劫持的可能性。
纳吉布表示，南海搜救已停止，现在向各个相关国家寻求雷达数据。他下令马外交部向各个相关国家通报情况，要求协助。
纳吉布称，我们有义务为家人提供有用的信息。
马来西亚官方发布会结束后，丽都方面的马方人员表示，由于调查性质发生了重要改变，涉及到刑事调查。根据国际法的有关规定，马航方面已无权利回答任何问题。今后所有关于MH370航班的消息，将由政府有关部门发布。