White House expands outreach to American Arabs and Muslims
Obama is really losing it. He is expanding outreach to Muslims? After telling NASA’s chief to direct his efforts to making Muslims feel good about Muslim contributions to science? After going to Cairo and making his notorious “outreach” speech on June 4, 2009, and since then indefatigably supporting every pro-Sharia Islamic supremacist uprising and regime? After putting his DoJ to work forcing non-Muslim businesses and educational institutions to comply with Sharia? What else could he possibly do now to expand outreach?
The outreach is being headed by Rumana Ahmed of the White Office of Public Engagement. In their first newsletter email to the public, Ms. Ahmed presented an overview of services and programs American Arabs should engage, although the language often fails to distinguish between “Arab” and “Muslim,” a common challenge facing American Arabs.
Nonetheless, the outreach is unique and welcome.
The head of the office and Director of Public Engagement, Valerie Jarrett, has a deep understanding of Middle Eastern issues and the American Arab and Muslim community. Jarrett is a longtime former aide to Chicago Mayor’s Harold Washington and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. She was hired as a senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Jarrett was born in Iran and her husband is William Jarrett, the son of veteran African American journalist and columnist Vernon Jarrett who embraced social activism in the 1970s and 1980s leading to Washington’s election.
Click here for information on the office.
Rumana Ahmed is an executive assistant to Jarrett.
Here is the latest newsletter sent out by the office targeting American Arabs and Muslims:
March 7-9 will be National Muslim American Enrollment Weekend! We are working with various organizations and community leaders across the U.S. to make sure members in their community learn more about health care enrollment and the upcoming March 31st deadline. We are calling on you as community leaders to also take part in this national effort of “Muslim American Enrollment Weekend” on March 7- 9th to make it a success or plan an event before March 31st!
Since October 1, more than 4 million people have enrolled. No one is invincible to injuries or sickness and no one should be denied coverage for their gender or for preexisting conditions, which is why it is so important that every American gets covered.
We are asking that you make sure members of the people at least understand how they are affected by the health care law, and know their options and how to enroll. You can do this simply by committing to organizing an enrollment event before March 31st.
Muslim health organizations are working with others to centralize all commitments and plans for events around Muslim American Enrollment Weekend (March 7-9) and before March 31st. For more information on how to take part in this national effort, plan an event and materials you need please email FN-WHO-Arab&MuslimOutreach@who.eop.gov.
Thank you for your leadership and all of your efforts in your communities.
Raising the Minimum Wage through Executive Order
In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama affirmed that this would be “a year of action” to help ensure opportunity for all Americans.
He announced his intention to move forward using his own authority and raise the minimum wage for workers on new and replacement federal service, construction, or concessions contracts to $10.10 an hour. As the President said, “If you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty.” On February 12, the President signed an Executive Order making this vision a reality.
Watch the President’s Weekly Address on Raising the Minimum Wage.
Read the Executive Order Fact Sheet.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the importance of raising the federal minimum wage for all workers, during an event in the in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 12, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Farm Bill Improves Access to Halal and Kosher Foods
The recently enacted Farm Bill improves access to kosher and halal foods through the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The bill also refocuses the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to better target assistance to seniors and improves access to tribal, kosher and halal foods through the Food Distribution on an Indian Reservation, National School Lunch and the Emergency Food Assistance Programs.
Community Leader Engagement
In the State of the Union address on January 28th, the President laid out his plan for domestic and foreign policy issues, including immigration reform, health care, and conflicts in the Middle East. Ever since, the Office of Public Engagement has been working with other departments, agencies, and leaders in the Muslim and Arab communities to address many of the issues the President has highlighted.
Earlier this month, the Office of Public Engagement hosted community leaders, innovators, scholars, health professionals and entrepreneurs from the Iranian-American community to discuss domestic policies and initiatives. They heard from and shared their thoughts with White House staffers on immigration reform, healthcare, civic engagement, and the role that the Iranian-American community can play in shaping policy. Representatives from the State Department also joined White House staff to speak on human rights concerns in Iran and on U.S.-Iran foreign policy.
The Office of Public Engagement gathered Arab, Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, Christian and Muslim American youth leaders from across the country at the White House this month to share the work of their organizations. These young leaders discussed the importance of their roles in this process and ways to organize in support of the current negotiations process and a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.
Youth Leaders discuss the work of their organizations and ideas for collaboration with State and White House staff. (PHOTO BY: Office of Public Engagement)
Also earlier this year, Secretary Kerry joined a luncheon with Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders at Georgetown university, coordinated by the Office of Public Engagement, State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations, and the new Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives. Imam Yahya Hendi, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Rabbi Sharon Brous came together to give opening prayers on the shared responsibility of people of all faiths in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Photo: Antifa animals attack
The eagle landed in Oz today. Robert Spencer, Ashraf Ramelah, Nonie Darwish and other luminaries in the fight of freedom converged in Melbourne, Australia for SION/Q Society’s First International Symposium on Liberty and Islam. From the airport I headed to a press conference, where Robert and I were interviewed by SBS News (Australia’s PBS). I will upload that video as soon as possible. The interviewer was a typically hostile Leftist reporter (no surprise there).
Then this evening, the Q Society held a welcoming reception for us at a local restaurant. This event was neither open to the public nor publicly announced. It was a lovely affair with longtime supporters and activists greeting us, welcoming us, and taking pictures with us. We weren’t there ten minutes when suddenly a crazed mob of left-fascists attempted to storm the room, attacking and throwing their bodies against our security team while frenziedly screaming that we were the fascists — the irony was unmistakable. These savages were really out of control. Had they managed to break through our security cordon, it is clear that they would have brutally assaulted as many of the freedom-lovers in the room as they possibly could. It was eerily reminiscent of the Muslim riots that took place in Sydney in 2012.
Nonie Darwish
A number of attendees were filming and taking pictures. As soon as I have video, I will post it.
No wonder we were so warmly greeted. Australia, you’ve got a problem. We’ve got the answer.
This vid is one for the ages. Bill Preston is 20 years old in this Ed Sullivan Show Live show performance accompanied by Ray Charles (ouch!). He is electric here. It always surprised me that Preston didn’t have the status of, say, a Stevie Wonder.
By age ten he was playing keyboards with gospel diva Mahalia Jackson, and two years
He’s a bloody genius. I love this performance. Watch it and then watch it again.
The British authorities banned us for warning of this very thing. They brought it on themselves.
UK authorities investigate “Trojan Horse” Islamic takeover plot in schools (thanks to Robert Spencer)
Here is a follow-up to a story I posted several days ago: “‘Islamic takeover plot’ in Birmingham schools investigated,” by Phil Mackie for the BBC, March 7:
An alleged plot to oust some Birmingham head teachers and make their schools adhere to more Islamic principles is being investigated, it has emerged.
A letter detailing the plan, known as “Operation Trojan Horse”, claims responsibility for leadership changes at four schools.
These schools are Adderley Primary, Saltley School, Park View School and Regents Park Community Primary School.
Saltley’s head teacher resigned last year after a critical Ofsted report.
Inspectors said there was a “dysfunctional” relationship between head teacher Balwant Bains and governors which was hindering the school.
The letter, which purports to outline “Operation Trojan Horse”, has subsequently been sent to at least another 12 schools in the city – all believed to be vulnerable to takeover.
It states that parents could be encouraged to turn against the leadership team if they are told the school is “corrupting their children with sex education, teaching about homosexuals, making their children pray Christian prayers and [carrying out] mixed swimming and sport”.
Among various claims in the letter is one that the group has “caused a great amount of organised disruption in Birmingham and as a result we have our own academies and are on the way to getting rid of more head teachers and taking over their schools”.
The head teachers of the schools met Birmingham City Council on Thursday to discuss their concerns.
The letter, seen by the BBC, was apparently written by someone in Birmingham to a contact in Bradford, and goes on to outline ways and means by which schools can be taken over.
It says: “We have an obligation to our children to fulfil our roles and ensure these schools are run on Islamic principles.”
Bradford targets
It is understood that would mean a greater emphasis on religious studies, as well as girls and boys being taught separately in some classes.
The letter implies these methods have already been put into action and urges the recipient to use Ofsted reports to identify schools in predominantly Muslim areas which are struggling.
Although the authorities have been aware of the alleged plot since November, the details have only become public now thanks to the letter which has been widely leaked.
We still don’t know whether it’s genuine or a fake, but that’s one of the questions the city council is attempting to answer with its investigation.
It’s clearly a sensitive subject and there will be great concerns about the effect on what the authorities euphemistically call “community cohesion”….
The “moderate” “westernized” Sultan expresses what my colleagues and I have long known and warned of: the sharia is the desired system of governance that Muslims which to impose “on all races.”
Sultan of Brunei hits back at foreign criticism of looming implementation of Sharia law that will introduce amputations and stonings as punishments
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said all races should unite under Sharia law
He said introduction is ‘a great achievement and not a backward step’
Harsh penalties include stoning for adultery and amputation fro theft
Punishments can be applied to non-Muslim residents of Brunei
By Daily Mail Reporter, March 6, 2014
The sultan of Brunei has rejected foreign criticism of the countries impending introduction of a form of strict Islamic Sharia law, saying it is not a backwards step.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said all races should unite under Sharia law and that the new penal code was a ‘great achievement’ for the small Southeast Asian nation.
Starting in April, Brunei will begin implementing a version of Sharia that allows for penalties such as amputation for theft and stoning for adultery.
Islamic law: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, pictured with his wife at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, said all races should unite under Sharia law, and that it is a great achievement for Brunei to implement it
Under limited circumstances, punishments can be applied to non-Muslim residents of the oil-rich country, according to those who have seen the law.
Public criticism of the government is extremely rare in the country, but some citizens have turned to the Internet to express alarm at the law.
Around one-third of Brunei’s 440,000 people are non-Muslims, mostly Christian or Buddhist Chinese.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah told legislators Thursday that all races should unite and support the laws, which he said were a ‘great achievement for the country, and not a backward or old-fashioned step.’
The Sultan, with Prince Charles, is implementing a version of Sharia that allows for penalties such as amputation for theft and stoning for adultery
The plans have alarmed international human rights groups, but Bolkiah said ‘people outside of Brunei should respect us in the same way that we respect them.’
Brunei is a conservative country where alcohol is banned and Muslim courts already govern family affairs.
Officials have said that punishments under the new laws will not be carried out until around 2017.
Muslims in next door Malaysia are subject to a limited form of Islamic law that does not include amputation or capital punishment, as does Aceh province on the western tip of Indonesia.
In general, the interpretation and practice of Islam in Southeast Asia is more liberal than in parts of the Middle East and South Asia.
Obama say, “respect it!”
Oppose death for apostates? You are nothing but a greasy islamophobe.
“Muslim Father Attacks Pastor, Kills Daughter Inside Church After She Converts To Christianity,” Midnight Watcher, March 7, 2014
OsunDefender – “The Oyo State Police command has arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of his daughter, Miss Kausara Isiaka for allegedly converting to Christianity.
The suspect was alleged by Reverend Daniel Oladimeji, one of the four persons he attacked with machete that he suspected him to be the brain behind the attack.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olabisi Ilobanafor, one Mary Oladimeji, of Calvary Church, Ayekale, Ibadan reported the incident at the station at about 02:00 hours of February 26th 2014.
Though, the police are yet to determine his culpability or otherwise, the suspect allegedly sneaked into the church premises and inflicted machete cuts on the four persons.
The victims’ names, according to the police, are Mary, Kausara Isiaka, Aanu and the pastor of the church.
It was further gathered that the father of the deceased who is a Muslim, allegedly pleaded severally with his daughter and threatened her to review her decision.
The police stated that the girl had to take refuge in the church.
But, on that fateful day, a yet-to-be identified attacker broke in and inflicted machete injuries on the victims while they were sleeping.
Out of the four victims, the police confirmed that her injuries were more severe than others.
Mary, the daughter of the suspect and other victims were rushed to Mobolaji Hospital, Oremeji, Ibadan where she later died.” Read more.
Flashback: Senior Cleric For American Muslim Group: The Punishment For Leaving Islam Is Death – “Dr. Hatem al-Haj, a senior committee member for the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA), confirmed in the below fatwa from July 2011 that the Islamic punishment for apostasy is death. A couple of things stand out to me about this fatwa. First, this fatwa was taken down from AMJA’s website as far back as October 2011, along with other fatwas on the same topic, possibly in response to an article written by my colleague Andrew Bostom exposing the rulings in that same month… So either AMJA changed their minds about the penalty for apostasy; or, more likely, they just don’t want non-Muslims seeing what they really think on controversial topics. If that’s the case, then what else are they not telling us?” Read more.
First Egypt, now Saudi Arabia designates Obama’s party Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group. Shocking that America would become a force for Islamic terror and supremacism the world over.
Imagine, Obama punished the Egyptian people bu withdrawing aid after they threw off the Islamic yoke of tyranny imposed by The Muslim Brotherhood. Obama presents a very real danger to freedom loving people.
Egypt Backs Saudi Arabia’s Branding of Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorists
“Saudis Put Terrorist Label on Muslim Brotherhood” NY Times, March 7, 2014
CAIRO — Saudi Arabia on Friday declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, escalating a new campaign against the group across the region with a sweeping ban that imposes lengthy prison sentences for even expressing sympathy with it.
The Saudi decree equates the Brotherhood, which has long denounced violence, with widely designated terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the Syria-based Nusra Front. The inclusion of the Brotherhood appeared to signal the beginning of a Saudi effort to eradicate the group, demonstrating the deepening polarization that is spreading across the region after the Egyptian military’s ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, a Brotherhood leader, last summer.
The decree was the Saudi monarchy’s latest gesture of support for attempts by the new military-backed government in Egypt to crush the Brotherhood. But it was also a pointed message to a neighboring Persian Gulf state, Qatar, which has provided refuge and support to Egyptian Brotherhood leaders since the takeover. Consistently sympathetic coverage of the Brotherhood by the Qatari-owned news network Al Jazeera has outraged Cairo and the other gulf monarchies.
The Saudi royal family has always viewed the Muslim Brotherhood with apprehension, fearing its rival blend of Islam and politics as well as its avowed embrace of democracy. The Saudi government prefers to align itself with a more puritanical approach to Islam, Salafism, which teaches heavy deference to Muslim rulers. But Brotherhood members living in Saudi Arabia have not usually felt the need to hide their affiliation for fear of arrest.
Since Mr. Morsi was deposed, though, the Saudi monarchy seems to have embarked on an all-out campaign against the group. As the dominant force in the gulf, Saudi Arabia appears to have led a campaign against Qatar over its support of the Islamists. This week, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, Qatar’s capital, in protest. Saudi Arabia and other gulf states donated more than $12 billion to the military-backed government in Cairo almost immediately after it removed Mr. Morsi.
The decree’s scope remained a puzzle. It was unclear if Saudi Arabia meant to extend the terrorist label to every affiliate or ally of the Brotherhood in the region. That would include the prime ministers of Turkey and Morocco, the leading party in Tunisia, and recognized opposition parties in Jordan and Bahrain. Some analysts asked if the Saudis would jail Islamist public officials from those countries if they visited, say, on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Saudi Arabia is also a close ally of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in their shared battle against President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. And less than two years ago, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh with Mr. Morsi on his first foreign trip after his election. The United States and other Western countries do not consider the Brotherhood a terrorist group.
In a statement issued by its London office, the Brotherhood said it was surprised and distressed by the decree. Unlike the militant groups listed, the Brotherhood said it never declared any government to be “infidel” or a legitimate target of violence. “The Brotherhood takes no stance of enmity or confrontation with the state, but rather acts as an adviser or a guider,” it said.
“The Muslim Brotherhood also cooperates with all nations politically in order to achieve common goals, such as having a dignified and free life,” the group said.
Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi commentator, noted in an interview with the Saudi-owned news network Al Arabiya that the Brotherhood was the only organization on the terrorist blacklist that was not an armed group.
“What are the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in the kingdom?” he asked. “These are not so easy to describe, and the authorities will need to answer the question of how they plan to respond to the group.”
Islamic supremacism in Malaysia reaches dizzying heights with their laws imposing restrictions on the use of the word allah by non-Muslims. As if the rest weren’t bad enough, Malaysia imposed strict laws on Christians prohibiting the use of the word allah, and made their hair trigger “sensitivity” known by burning churches and terrorizing Christians.
But it doesn’t stop there. Now the Japanese are being targeted….. for a comic book.
I surprised that the Muslims aren’t rioting over the Japanese use of “Godzilla.”
“Malaysia bans Ultraman book over use of Allah,” from the Associated Press, March 6, 2014 (thanks to Kenneth)
Malaysia has banned a translation of an Ultraman comic book after it referred to the popular Japanese superhero as “Allah”, authorities said Friday, during an ongoing row over use of the word by non-Muslims.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has banned a translation of an Ultraman comic book after it
The home ministry, which is in charge of domestic security and censorship, said the Malay-language edition of “Ultraman, The Ultra Power” contains elements that can undermine public order and morals.
“Ultraman is an idolised by many children,” and equating him with Allah will “confuse Muslim youth and damage their faith,” it said in a statement.
It further warned that irresponsible use of the word can provoke Muslims and threaten public safety.
The Malaysian government is currently embroiled in an intense court battle with the Catholic Church over the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims, in a case that has raised religious tensions in the majority Muslim country.
Yesterday, I posted about fascists goons storming our happy gathering welcoming us to Australia. Here’s a picture of the “protesters” outside the event. I think their sign sums them up quite nicely, don’t you think. Debate must be “smashed”. They are taking their direction from Hitler’s SA and SS and all the other jackbooted thugs and goons that came before them.
Last night the Q Society held a welcoming reception for us at a local restaurant. This event was neither open to the public nor publicly announced. It was a lovely affair with longtime supporters and activists greeting us, welcoming us, and taking pictures with us. We weren’t there ten minutes when suddenly a crazed mob of left-fascists attempted to storm the room, attacking and throwing their bodies against our security team while frenziedly screaming that we were the fascists — the irony was unmistakable. These savages were really out of control. Had they managed to break through our security cordon, it is clear that they would have brutally assaulted as many of the freedom-lovers in the room as they possibly could. It was eerily reminiscent of the Muslim riots that took place in Sydney in 2012.
The sign best illustrates who and what they are. Evil.
Whatever it was, it was quick and catastrophic. There seems to be no evidence of a distress signal. “A leading aviation safety expert also said that it was ‘extraordinary’ that the pilots of the jetliner did not have time to make a distress call.”
Two stolen passports is a bit of a “coincidence.” China Southern, which operated a codeshare on the flight, said both the passengers using stolen passports had booked through its ticketing office.
Two thirds of the 227 passengers were Chinese, including one infant, travelling on what has become one of the most popular tourist routes in Asia.
China and Malaysia are certainly in the cross-hairs.
UPDATE: Foreign ministry officials in Rome and Vienna have confirmed that names of two nationals listed on the manifest of the missing Malaysian airlines flight match passports reported stolen in Thailand.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry said that an Italian man whose name was listed as being aboard is traveling in Thailand and was not aboard the plane.
Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Weiss confirmed that a name listed on the manifest matches an Austrian passport reported stolen two years ago in Thailand. Weiss would not confirm the identity. (source: Daily Mail) thanks to Van
Air safety experts investigate whether terrorism was behind the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight which vanished over the South China Sea
Air safety experts are investigating whether an airliner that mysteriously vanished in the Far East could have been the target of a terrorist attack.
Officials stressed that it was too early to say whether terrorism was a likely cause of the Malaysia airlines crash. But US officials said they were checking into passenger manifests and going back through intelligence.
“We are aware of the reporting on the two stolen passports,” one senior official told NBC news. “We have not determined a nexus to terrorism yet, although it’s still very early, and that’s by no means definitive.”
A leading aviation safety expert also said that it was “extraordinary” that the pilots of the jetliner did not have time to make a distress call.
David Learmount, of the specialist aviation magazine Flight Global, said that as the plane was cruising at about 35,000 feet when it lost contact over the South China sea, the pilots would normally have had “plenty of time” to radio in any technical problems before the plane hit the water.
Chris Yates, another aviation expert, said: “There will be two areas for the investigation: the maintenance of the aircraft and also possible terrorism.”
As darkness fell over the South China Sea last night, rescuers using boats, helicopters and planes had spotted two long oil slicks in the area where the Boeing 777 lost contact with air traffic control.
No wreckage, or survivors, were spotted during a rescue mission that involved five countries and lasted roughly seven hours before the night closed in.
But there was an ominous surprise after Malaysia Airlines released the passenger list for Flight MH370, a red-eye between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
After checking the names of passengers 63 and 101, Christian Kozel and Luigi Maraldi, the Austrian and Italian governments said that neither man was on board.
A woman cries in Beijing airport as she waits to hear information about her family (Reuters)
Both had their passports stolen in Thailand over the last two years, and Mr Maraldi had been issued a new one according to the Italian media.
China Southern, which operated a codeshare on the flight, said both the passengers using stolen passports had booked through its ticketing office.
Asked in the wake of the revelations whether terrorists had seized the plane, Najib Razak, the Malaysian prime minister said: “We are looking at all possibilities, but it is too early to make any conclusive remarks.”
An unnamed senior American intelligence official told the New York Times that “at this time, we have not identified this as an act of terrorism. While the stolen passports are interesting, they don’t necessarily say to us that this was a terrorism act”.
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER that went missing
It was 1.20am on Saturday morning when Flight MH370 simply vanished, in clear weather and with no distress signal, over the sea between Malaysia and Vietnam.
Two thirds of the 227 passengers were Chinese including one infant, travelling on what has become one of the most popular tourist routes in Asia. There were no British passengers on board.
The pilot, 53-year-old Zaharie Ahmad Shah, had more than 18,000 flying hours under his belt and had been flying for Malaysia Airlines for more than three decades.
Data from the plane showed no cause for panic. After a steady climb to 35,000ft, the Boeing 777 jet levelled off and then abruptly stopped sending its location, speed, and altitude. There was no sign of any sudden descent.
The absence of any signal from the plane particularly troubled experts; even if both engines on the jet had failed, there should have been time to issue a distress call as the plane descended.
Family and friends waiting for the plane to arrive break down as they hear the jet has gone missing (AFP)
It was five hours before Malaysia Airlines issued its first statement, simply saying they had lost contact with their plane and had begun a rescue operation.
In Beijing, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi broke off a press conference to deal with the crisis. “We are extremely worried,” he said. Shortly afterwards, Xi Jinping, the president, ordered “all-out efforts” on a rescue operation.
An efficient police operation at Beijing airport shuttled relatives away from a scrum of Chinese and foreign journalists and to a conference room in a downtown hotel, where they sat and waited.
It was six more hours before the search began focusing on the last point of contact from the plane, roughly 120 nautical miles south west of Vietnam.
At 12.15pm, an emergency message was broadcast to all ships in the area asking them to “keep a sharp look out and assist immediately”.
China dispatched two ships from its naval base on Hainan island, while the Vietnamese and Malaysia navies both sent helicopters and ships. Singapore sent C-130 Hercules planes to search from overhead.
A Vietnamese journalist aboard a search and rescue helicopter said they had spotted oil slicks on the waters.
The arrival board shows the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, top in red, cancelled at Beijing International Airport (AFP)
But the Malaysian transport minister, Hishamuddin Hussein, said it was too early to confirm a crash and that there were no signs of wreckage.
“We are doing everything in our power to locate the plane. We are doing everything we can to ensure every possible angle has been addressed,” he said.
Malaysia Airlines has a good safety record; it last lost a plane in 1977. The Boeing 777, equipped with twin Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engines, is also one of the world’s safest planes. Its only fatal crash in a 19-year history came last July when an Asiana Airlines jet missed the runway in San Francisco and three died.
A member of staff from Malaysia Airlines is surrounded by reporters at the airport (Rex Features)
Experts said that investigators would concentrate not only on whether the plane had suffered some catastrophic structural or engine failure, but also on sudden and unforeseen turbulence, some sort of attack on the plane, or even the suicide of the pilot, which has caused previous crashes over water.
But, a full day after the tragedy, the only news that Malaysia Airlines could issue was that “at this stage, our search and rescue teams from Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have failed to find evidence of any wreckage”.
“The sea mission will continue while the air mission will recommence at daylight,” it added.
By then, the relatives of the passengers in Beijing were furious, having been held throughout the day in the hotel with minimal information.
The only information the relatives had gleaned, complained another man named Mr Jia, was from the internet.
At the end of the day, the relatives retired to rooms in the hotel, still without any news, their hopes fading.
Additional reporting by Adam Wu