The bitter memories of Putrajaya's fumble in handling the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 last year have been reignited following the discovery of debris on French-controlled Reunion Island off the coast of Madagascar.
This was after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak confirmed in the wee hours of yesterday that the flaperon discovered was indeed from Flight MH370 which had been missing for 16 months.
However, hours later, US and French authorities were unwilling to confirm that it was indeed from Flight MH370, with the latter merely stating there was a "very strong presumption" that it came from the doomed aircraft.
This is on top of Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai confirming new debris discovered on Reunion Island including a aircraft window, while French authorities which control the Island denied any new discoveries.
The contradictions only served as a bitter reminder for the next-of-kin of the 239 people who were left confused in the early stages of the search and rescue operation when the aircraft went missing on March 8, 2014.
This was highlighted in New York Times in a scathing article today titled: "Malaysia's declarations on Flight 370 and plane debris further dent its credibility".
"Malaysia's handling of the discovery of a wing part that apparently came from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has worsened frictions with its partners in the investigation, rekindled frustrations among the families of people who were aboard the plane and further dented the country's battered credibility.
"Many questioned the timing and motives of the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, who announced in the early hours of Thursday that the wing part had been 'conclusively confirmed' to be from the missing plane," it said.
Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong (photo) in a statement today questioned whether Malaysia had jumped the gun in the latest confirmation.
"Why did Liow advise Najib to make a premature and hasty announcement, which the international community has deemed 'irresponsible'?
"Confirmation should not be given lightly about a plane that disappeared mysteriously 515 days ago which has baffled expert international investigators for the past 457 days," he said.
As a result, Liew said Najib's announcement was instead greeted with scepticism and caution.
"In particular, relatives and friends of the 239 on board the plane were still in anguish and not all have accepted the 'confirmation' by the prime minister.
"My thoughts go out to them," he said.
Furthermore, Liew said many questions still linger and he urged for a separate investigation to be conducted locally, either through a royal commission of inquiry or at least a bi-partisan parliamentary select committee and aided by aviation experts.
He said among the issues that had to be addressed was the Royal Malaysian Air Force's failure to detect and intercept Flight MH370.
But then, they might get really nasty as they tend to do when put on the spot....
