SILKAIR CRASH (Report of investigation)

Mr J B Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Communications if he will say how far the investigation into the SilkAir crash has proceeded and when a report may be expected.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the crash of flight MI185 took place in December 1997. In February this year, I updated the House on the progress of the investigation into the crash. I also made known the various tasks that would be undertaken by the investigation team.

The investigation team is headed by Indonesia and supported by experts from Singapore and the US. This is in accordance with international laws which stipulate that the investigation of aircraft accidents should be under the charge of the State in which the accident occurred and supported by the State of the airline operator and the State of the aircraft manufacturer. The team is also assisted by experts from Australia, which has a mutual agreement with Indonesia for investigation of aircraft accidents.

Investigation into the crash is still very much in progress. Since I last updated the House, the team has examined the recovered wreckage pieces. A partial reconstruction of the aircraft tail section has been completed and the team has carried out tests in flight simulators. Investigations into air traffic services, meteorology, maintenance records and operations have also been completed. The team is currently looking into further analysis of certain aircraft system and flight control parts and components and the human performance aspects of the accident. All the information extracted from these investigation activities will be carefully studied.

The investigation team fully understands the importance of keeping the next-of-kin and the public informed of the progress and findings of the investigation. As the leader of the investigation, Indonesia is the authority for the release of such information. No information can be released by any other party without the approval of the lead country in this investigation, ie, Indonesia. In March this year, Professor Oetarjo Diran, Chairman of the Indonesian Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission (AAIC) and Investigator-In-Charge of the investigation, was in Singapore to report on the status of the investigation. Last month, Professor Diran wrote a letter to the press to update the public and next-of-kin on the investigation. The team will continue to update the next-of-kin and the public when there are significant developments or findings, and when the investigation is completed.

Investigations of air crashes are very painstaking and laborious. The complete investigation of the ValueJet DC-9 accident in Florida, USA in May 1996 took 16 months. The China Airlines A300 incident in Nagoya, Japan in April 1994 took almost 27 months. Others took even longer. In the case of the United Airlines B737 crash in Colorado Springs, USA, in March 1991, seven years ago, investigation is still on-going.

In the SilkAir case, the investigation is made difficult by the extent of damage of the aircraft and the lack of useful data from the black boxes. At this point in time, the team is unable to predict when investigations into the accident would be completed. They have, however, informed me that it is unlikely to be completed within the next six months. Nonetheless, the team of 70 experts is putting in maximum effort to do a thorough and objective investigation. All parties concerned are determined to find out the cause or causes of this tragic accident.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I just ask the Minister whether he is satisfied for himself that the Indonesian authorities are exerting all efforts to find out the cause of the accident? Or has it been superseded by the recent events in Indonesia?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry is in constant touch with the investigation team, which is led by the Indonesians but active participation comes from Singapore as well as the NTSB of the United States. I would like to assure the House that the investigation led by Indonesia is very professionally done. It is still very active. The current troubles in Indonesia are not affecting the investigation. Prof. Diran, who is the leader in charge of the investigation has been misquoted in the press as saying that the investigation has been completed and he has come out to clarify the situation. I believe that he will be issuing further statements to update the public on the progress of the investigation in due course.

Mr Shriniwas Rai: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister give an assurance to the House that when the report is completed he will present the report to the House or perhaps make a Ministerial Statement in due course?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, the investigation report will be issued by the Indonesian authorities. As to the modalities of presenting the investigation report, I will have to discuss with the authorities concerned. But, definitely, I will endeavour to at least make a statement in this House when the report is finally published.

Dr Lily Neo (Kreta Ayer-Tanglin): Sir, may I ask the Minister whether SilkAir has paid compensation to the relatives of the air crash victims? If not, why is that so?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: I believe that the lawyers of SilkAir and the lawyers of the next-of-kin of the deceased are in touch. SilkAir has made provisions for advance compensation to the next-of-kin up to an amount of $20,000. This was to help in some of the expenses incurred. However, not all the next-of-kin have taken up that offer. Nevertheless, I believe that discussions are ongoing with the rest of the next-of-kin.

Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin (Nominated Member): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister about recent disturbing reports in the Wall Street Journal suggesting that suicide could be one of the causes of the crash. I would like to ask the Minister how credible is this report and are there investigations to study the possibility of this being one of the reasons?

Mr Speaker: The question is out of order. A question should not be asked confirming whether a press report is correct or not.