SINGAPORE, March 14 -- Singapore is stepping up efforts to help Malaysia in its search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane MH370, said Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen on Friday during the sixth meeting of the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS).

Ng was quoted by local TV Channel NewsAsia as saying that the Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) - an RSAF plane - will depart on Friday afternoon from Changi Airbase West, for the Straits of Malacca. The MPA aircraft will comprise six officers onboard.

So far, Singapore has activated six types of military units, including helicopters, planes and vessels, to help in the search for the missing plane.

"Singapore is not giving up. As part of our international efforts, I can say that our servicemen from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are actively looking for the missing plane, whether it's in the air, on the water or underwater," he said.

"All our efforts now must be on behalf of families of passengers of the missing airplane, especially to families of many Malaysians and Chinese who are on the plane. This is what we are working for."