Confused messages

Muhd Akif Abdullah, a 34-year-old local resident, said he flies with Malaysia Airlines frequently. "I've been paying close attention to this issue, but have found the information issued by the authorities to be confusing," he said. "Their announcements are disjointed and change constantly. Some officials can't even speak fluent English at the media briefings."

He has now stopped watching the official media briefings and has turned to the international media instead. "This incident has revealed a lot of problems, including the government's inability to provide clear, accurate information. They are supposed to be more professional."

Tiffanie Osswalt, a reporter for France's BFM TV, said the Malaysian government's messages have been inconsistent. "The authorities change their statements every day, and we don't know which story to believe," she said, adding that she expected communications to improve in the wake of Najib Razak's media conference.

"Still, we journalists should verify our sources before we publish any information," she said. "This is a mysterious incident, and as reporters we have to say something every day. However, still we shouldn't spread rumors, despite the lack of real progress."

Family members of the missing Chinese passengers watched the prime minister's press conference at a hotel in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. They also complained about poor communications.

"There are so many changes every day, but I am worried the flow of information won't help to find the plane, or may even result in them looking in the wrong place," said a woman who declined to give her name.

Although the family is staying at a four-star resort, the choking smog obscured the leafy vista and the sky was gray. Occasionally, ashes from burning bushes were carried by the wind and landed in the hotel gardens.

"Everything is blurred. We can't see through the dense fog surrounding this situation," she said.