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Malaysia says yet to decide on new search for MH370

epa07410400 The messages written on paper planes are displayed during the remembrance ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 plane's disappearance, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 03 March 2019. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with the loss of all 239 people on board on 08 March 2014. EPA-EFE/FAZRY ISMAIL

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Malaysia on Monday said it has yet to decide on launching a new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which went missing with 239 people on board nearly six years ago, following a report that a new effort to find the plane could be mounted.

Malaysia’s ministry of transport said it has not received any new credible evidence to initiate a new search.

“However, the ministry will review any new evidence that it officially receives,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

On Sunday, Australia’s News Corp reported that a new search could be mounted possibly this year, based on new evidence that it said showed the plane could have ended up in an area adjacent to the previous search area in the Indian Ocean.

News Corp reported that U.S. exploration firm Ocean Infinity was in discussions with the Malaysian government to mount a new search on a no find no fee basis.

Ocean Infinity did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flight MH370 became one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries when it vanished on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

Malaysia, China, and Australia, called off a two-year, A$200 million ($130 million) underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean in January 2017 after finding no trace of the aircraft.

A second three-month search, led by Ocean Infinity, ended similarly in May the following year. ($1 = 1.4939 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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