A map shows the possible path of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as released to Reuters by the Malaysian Transport Ministry May 1, 2014. REUTERS/Malaysian Transport Ministry/Handout via Reuters
A map shows the possible path of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as released to Reuters by the Malaysian Transport Ministry May 1, 2014. Reuters/Malaysian Transport Mi

Negative speculations such as the plane is still safe in secret location, conspiracy theories, cover-ups, and that the nations involved in the search of the missing plane are in rift will not tarnish Australia, China and Malaysia relations, Deputy Communication and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Jailani Johari said.

Johari was speaking in a press conference in Malaysia.

He said that such negative speculations were maliciously spread by the western and social media to gain popularity through sensationalism.

He clarified that Australia, China and Malaysia remained unified with the objective of finding the missing plane.

"In fact, four sub-committees were formed by the governments namely the Asset Assignment Committee, Technical and Logistics Committee, Beneficiary Committee and the Communication and Media Committee to ensure orderly and accurate dissemination of information. I have just held a four-eye meeting with my counterpart from China in Beijing, last week and they appreciated Malaysia's commitment and open approach in the search mission," Johari reiterated.

Johari's statement came after a report from The Wall Street Journal saying that the three countries are negotiating the costs for the search.

Malaysia, Australia and China are arguing how to share the costs of the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, said a report in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

"The sharing of cost is still being negotiated but I think it is only fair that China (and) Australia, together with Malaysia, find a way to share (and) bear the cost," Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said as quoted by the report from WSJ.

Malaysia had already spent RM27.6 million ringgit and Australia had allocated A$89.9 million (about RM266 million) for the search.

As for conspiracy theory and the undying speculation that the plane is still safe and hidden in a secret location, Johari had this to say:

"How can Malaysia hide the facts when the search and rescue mission involved 26 countries and every discussion in Canberra or Beijing is also attended by the governments of Australia and China? I wish to stress that the people should not be easily fooled by the social media, and should refer to mainstream media for the latest and accurate information."