The Malaysian Government Used a Shaman Ritual to Find That Missing Plane
It hasn’t been a good week for Malaysian authorities.
The country’s government has been facing increasing criticism - at home and abroad - amidst a frantic search for clues about the fate of missing flight MH370, which vanished last Saturday after taking off from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people onboard.
First came the reports that at least two people had boarded the international flight using stolen passports. Then came a string of disastrous press conferences, conflicting information, and incorrect details by Malaysia Airlines, the government-owned carrier.
Interpol has publicly berated the Malaysians for their loose passport system, as have the Chinese over the poor communication and delays in sharing of new information. Families of the passengers have also hurled words - and water bottles - at Malaysia Airlines’ Beijing representatives.
Now, six days into the fumbling search for the flight, an outspoken Malaysian opposition leader has added his voice to the many chastising the government’s handling of the situation, calling their inaction “shameful” and accusing them of bringing ridicule on the country internationally by bringing a “bomoh” - a sort of shaman in Malay culture - to the capital’s airport to help with the search.