Opposition MPs are in an uproar after being left out of a special briefing on the MH370 crisis by the Ministry of Transport after a notice issued by Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic) invited only Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — A notice issued by Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein inviting only Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers to a special briefing on the MH370 crisis by the Ministry of Transport tomorrow drew uproar from opposition MPs today.

PKR’s Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh questioned why the briefing was only for BN legislators when the crisis of the missing plane is a national matter.

She further pointed out that the Transport Ministry had a duty to answer to Parliament and not only for members of the ruling coalition.

“How can this happen when this is a national matter? This is regretful. The minister is supposed to answer to the House, not just to a group of special MPs.

INTI College students having a 'Pray for MH370' candlelight vigil organised by the STACT club at INTI International University College Subang Jaya, on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May INTI College students having a 'Pray for MH370' candlelight vigil organised by the STACT club at INTI International University College Subang Jaya, on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May INTI College students having a 'Pray for MH370' candlelight vigil organised by the STACT club at INTI International University College Subang Jaya, on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May Residents of Boeung Kak Lake light candles to spell "MH370" during a Buddhist ceremony, praying for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370, in Phnom Penh March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Pictures of flight engineer Mohd Khairul Amri Selamat who was on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, are seen in Putrajaya March 16, 2014. — Reuters pic Selamat Omar shows a picture of his son, flight engineer Mohd Khairul Amri Selamat who was on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, in Putrajaya March 16, 2014. — Reuters pic Defence and Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein holding a map showing the northern corridor at the daily MH370 press conference at the Sama Sama Hotel in KLIA, on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng Defence and Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein holding a map showing the southern corridor at the daily MH370 press conference at the Sama Sama Hotel in KLIA, on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng The daily press conference on the missing MH370 aircraft at Sama Sama Hotel on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng A relative of a passenger on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 sits on a chair after a meeting with the airline's representatives at Lido Hotel in Beijing March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Family members of passengers on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vote to talk directly to Malaysian government's representatives during a meeting with the airline's representatives at Lido Hotel in Beijing March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Malaysia Airlines representatives answer questions during a meeting with relatives of passengers on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, at Lido Hotel in Beijing March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Students gather around a three dimensional artwork, based on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, that was painted on a school ground in Makati city, metro Manila March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Students watch as a group of artists put the finishing touches to a three dimensional artwork, based on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, that was painted on a school ground in Makati city, metro Manila March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Indian Navy ship INS Kesari, involved in search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, arrives at the naval base in Port Blair, the capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar islands, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Indian Navy ship INS Kesari, involved in search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, arrives at the naval base in Port Blair, the capital of India's Andaman and Nicobar islands, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A front page picture of Zaharie Ahmad Shah, the pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370, is seen at a stand as a man buys newspapers in Dengkil, near Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A girl looks at Malaysia Airlines planes through the window of the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A woman adds her message on the clothes of a model during an art performance in support of the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 at the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A model poses for pictures during an art performance in support of the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 at the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Children write messages of hope and support for the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 at the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A man reads newspaper with news about the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 as others have breakfast in Dengkil, near Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A man stands in front of a board with messages of hope and support for the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 at the departure hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A boy stands beside a model posing for pictures during an art performance in support for the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 at the departure hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A relative of a passenger aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 rests at a meeting hall at Lido Hotel in Beijing, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A man attempts to call his son, a passenger of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, after speaking to the media outside a rest area for relatives at Lido Hotel in Beijing, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A young relative of a passenger aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 reacts during a meeting with Malaysia Airlines at Lido Hotel in Beijing, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic An Indian Navy boat patrols in the waters of the Andaman Sea near Port Blair, the capital of India’s Andaman and Nicobar islands, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Passengers wait at the immigration control at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic A woman leaves messages of support and hope for the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 in central Kuala Lumpur, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Crew members on board a US Navy P-8A Poseidon man their workstations while assisting in search operations for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean, March 17, 2014. — Reuters pic Previous Next

“It doesn’t matter if it is the opposition or BN, we are mandated to represent the people and the people have the right to know,” she said when debating the Parliamentary Royal Address.

A picture of the notice, which had the ministry of transport’s letterhead and Hishammuddin’s signature, was made available to the media after it was distributed in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The closed-door briefing will be held at the upscale hotel, Aloft, at KL Sentral at 8pm tomorrow.

“It is a national tragedy and all MPs should be briefed thoroughly.

“At this critical time, Hishammuddin as transport minister is still playing partisan politics and we are sad and disappointed,” PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said, commenting on being locked out of the briefing.

Both Fuziah and Sim said Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers are united with the public in praying for the safety of those aboard Flight MH370.

“The onus now is on the government to do the same and walk the talk,” Sim said.

BN legislators refused to comment on the matter when approached by The Malay Mail Online.

The plane has yet to be found 10 days after it fell off civilian aviation radar on March 8 but investigators believe it was diverted by someone with deep knowledge of the plane and of commercial navigation.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on Saturday evidence pointed to a deliberate diversion of the flight, given the controlled way it was apparently turned around and flown far to the west of its original route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The Malaysian government has also come under heat for allegedly being slow to release information, and critics have also claimed such information that has been made public is often conflicting, fuelling speculation that Putrajaya was trying to hide something.

A picture of the notice was made available to the media after it was distributed in the Dewan Rakyat today. — Picture by Syed Jaymal Zahiid Syed Kamal

The opposition had previously criticised the Barisan Nasional government for what it described as a chaotic lack of coordination in managing the crisis.

Malaysian officials have denied the allegations.