On Monday, Prime Minister
Tony Abbott confirmed accepting Malaysia's request for
Australia to lead the search on the southern Indian Ocean.
"In light of developments in the investigation, he requested that
Australia assumes responsibility in coordinating that part of the search efforts that is focusing on the southern Indian Ocean. I told Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) that Australia stands with Malaysia at this very difficult time and would be pleased to take on this additional responsibility," Mr Abbott said during the press conference.

Geoffrey Thomas
However, in the opinion of Geoffrey Thomas, editor of the Web site airlineratings.com, Australian officials should tell Malaysia point blank that Malaysia is not competent to conducts its own search investigations.
Mr Thomas was Australasian Aviation Journalist (AAJ) of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2011, Aviation Editor for
The West Australian newspaper and Airlines Editor for
Australian Aviation.
Speaking with
The World Today, Mr Thomas said that with Malaysia handling its own search of the missing MH370, it became "one of the most botched aircraft investigations in modern history."
"Unfortunately we have not been told by the Malaysians in a timely fashion about the shutting off of the ACARS, the shutting off of the transponder, the plane going to the west. Millions of dollars has been wasted, days have been wasted searching in the wrong area. I think this is without doubt one of the most botched aircraft investigations in modern history," Mr Thomas said.
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