Malaysian officials are keeping their spirits high as search efforts for the lost Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 begins anew.

With the help of new technology and given that search teams are directed at the right location, Malaysia's defense minister Datuk Sen Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he is 99.9 percent optimistic that the missing aircraft will be found.

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Hishammudin issued the comments after a briefing that introduced new underwater search technology equipment on Wednesday.

The GO Phoenix Vessel and ProSAS sonar scanner are the latest additions to the Malaysia-Australia vessels from UK-based manufacturer Fugro Survey Limited. Both equipments are believed to contribute greatly in the search for the missing MH370 flight which can conduct an underwater survey of up to 6,000 meters deep and cover at least 190 square kilometers a day.

Despite this, Hishammuddin warned that expectations must be kept realistic.

Indeed, the newly-contracted technology is impressive but we must keep in mind that the "ocean is huge," Hishammuddin said, adding that the vessel was relatively minute compared to the vastness of the ocean.

All efforts are being exhausted to find the downed aircraft, he said, vowing that MH370 victims would not be forgotten.

The defense minister reiterated Malaysia's commitment to properly conclude investigations as quickly as possible but that the government had no immediate intentions to place blame on any parties until all information was at hand.

According to Petronas Petroleum Management Vice President Adif Zulkifli, the firm had contributed RM67 million for the lease of the GO Phoenix and ProSAS sonar. The lease contract is good for six months and terminates on February 2015.

Hishammuddin also addressed allegations that a senior executive in the aviation industry had control over the MH370 up until the time it went missing.

All information must be verified, the defense minister said.

Search efforts for the lost MH370 using the new technology are expected to resume on Thursday, off the southern portion of the Indian Ocean.

TagsMalaysia, mh370, Malaysia Airlines, Datuk Sen Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, MH370 Search