MH370: Captain Hishammuddin’s media make-over

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has plonked himself in the Captain’s seat of the MH370 operation to meet the expectations of passengers’ relatives, crews’ co-workers and others. He’s in the domestic and international media daily.

Hishammuddin has made himself the focus of the MH370 operation. He must often thank Allah that the men who stand beside him at the daily media briefings are awed by him.

The CEO of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and the Director General (DG) of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) look and sound uncomfortable in the media spotlight. They are, after all, flanking a man who has publicly waved daggers, obfuscated over custodial deaths, downplayed an invasion, immorally detained citizens, etc. and freely utters threats.

Hishammuddin has emulated Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah who ‘showed up’ daily at the scene of the 1993 Highland Towers tragedy. Dr M came out of that tragedy relatively unscathed because he showed compassion and because there was no alternative media.

Hishammuddin made his media trainers proud when he faced a potentially disastrous media moment. A Chinese lady who sought to express her frustration over the MH370 operation’s erratic, erroneous and directionless movement was forcibly removed by police from the venue for the daily briefing. When Hishammuddin was asked to comment, he responded admirably. He looked and sounded sincere when he said he ‘understood;’ this was a difficult time; he might have done the same thing.

Perhaps Hishammuddin also deserves credit for the media counter-measure taken to address the damage done by the distraught lady: there was a lovely interview by the Chinese-government controlled media station in which she not only said she was removed by the police for her own protection, but even fell on her knees to thank “everyone who was helping to find them.”

Yet it is important to ask why Hishammuddin is in the Captain’s seat. I have chosen to say “Captain’s seat” because Hishammuddin doesn’t present himself as a spokesperson. He presents himself not as coach, encourager or patron. He presents himself as the man-in-charge, the Captain.

What qualifies him to be Captain?

Hishammuddin qualifies because he is a member of Malaysia’s super elite cabinet and reports to the Prime Minister. Hishammuddin ‘leading’ the MH370 operation sends a message domestically and internationally: “Malaysia will do anything that is needed to achieve the best possible result.”

Hishammuddin qualifies because he has a long track record which demonstrates he isn’t bothered by NGO’s or others who think they have a right to information or to expect him to take actions they recommend. Being considered a hypocrite by many means nothing to him. He isn’t distracted. He sets his path and sticks to it.

Hishammuddin qualifies because he knows how government works. He knows whom to call. He knows how to leverage the fact that Prime Minister Najib is his cousin. He has the experience and connections to make civil servants and others do what he says.

Why shouldn’t Hishammuddin be Captain of the MH370 operation?

Hishammuddin shouldn’t be Captain because being in the Captain’s seat will cause him to neglect his other duties while he capitalizes on the MH370 opportunities.

He is responsible for 2 bleeding, tainted and powerful ministries, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Defence. Remember the bus crashes? Remember the Department of Transport computer issues? Remember the Auditor General’s Report?

He’s chosen to do what he prefers and considers good for himself, not what he must.

Hishammuddin shouldn’t be Captain because being in the Captain’s seat enables him to cover up failings in the Defence Ministry. He is only ‘acting’ Minister for Transport. He is really Defence Minister. For him, job number one is to ensure the armed forces will not reveal any questionable procurement decisions and appointments made during the watch of a former Defence Minister, his cousin, the current Prime Minister. Yes, the one who’s being investigated in France. He will give priority to the defence ministry (not ‘defence’).

Which Malaysian doesn’t believe the armed forces has not made questionable decisions concerning submarines and radar? Which Malaysian doesn’t believe something about defence radar is being hidden?

Hishammuddin shouldn’t be Captain because being in the Captain’s seat opens the MH370 investigation to allegations that it is politically tainted. Malaysia Airlines, owned and operated by the government, is bleeding money. The pressure to ‘recover’ business morphs into pressure to blame those who are least able to defend themselves. A Captain with a history of brutally repressing dissent is definitely undesirable.

Most of all, Hishammuddin shouldn’t be Captain because relatives, especially the Chinese, expect non-glib answers.

Non-glib answers, answers which show respect for questioners, can only be given by someone who knows industry norms, who has deep links with members of the organization which operated MH370, who knows the tricks Boeing, Rolls Royce, the armed forces and others will use to protect their own interests.

Hishammuddin keeps repeating ‘our focus is to find the plane.’ The relatives of passengers and crew members and most Malaysians keep completing his sentence “while the culprits cover their tracks and continue to deceive and to err.”