Opening up to FMT, former journalist Hamzah Nazari recalled how confusion led to frustration in the early days of the plane’s disappearance.

“There was a lack of information and so many false rumours flying around,” said the former journalist from The Rakyat Post.

Hamzah said he had a couple of friends who had relatives on the ill-fated flight and they would call him to clarify and verify whatever information they received online.

“As time drew on and days turned to weeks, I became sad as hope dwindled that there would be survivors,

“It got tougher to go to work and pick up my friends’ calls.”

For Hamzah, what he regretted most was the lengths at which his fellow media practitioners – from journalists, to photographers and videographers – went to get the stories they wanted.

“It was very insensitive and it was too much. It is something that we have to fix.”

Another journalist, who only wanted to be known as Raj, said the initial shock was so great he did not know what to feel.

“I was shocked that in this day and age, a plane that size could go missing just like that,” he said, adding that he did not initially feel sad because in the early days, many still believed that the passengers were alive and he, too, was hopeful.

However, Raj said he pitied the next of kin who were growing frustrated with each day at the lack of information.

Another journalist, Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri said it was a difficult time, especially when interviewing the families of the victims, as he could feel their sadness and grief.

“Incidents like these are also a big challenge for journalists as we have to gather and deliver accurate information. Moreover then, many in the public bemoaned that media practitioners were not supplying much information on the incident,” he said, adding it was the largest disaster he had ever covered.

Today marks the second year since MH370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew on board while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.