Missing MH370: Now, pilot's political inclination under radar

Kuala Lumpur, March 18:The man who steered 8000 flights and was considered the most experienced of all fliers is now under the radar for the disappearance of the flight he led last.

The mystery behind the disappearance of MH370 has brought many angles to the story and many more theories are emerging.

While the Malaysian authorities suspect deliberate action in the cockpit that led to its disappearances, neighbours and friends of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, snub all such possibilities saying that he was a "gentleman" and was interested in "cooking" and "home improvement".

However, investigators are now focussing on his political inclination, which is considered to be controversial. He is an ardent supporter of Malaysia's opoosition party, which is headed by veteran politician Anwar Ibrahim. His Twitter account too follows a number of political leaders from the opposition, but does not involve any Twitting from his side.

It is said that just before the flight took off, the leader Anwar was convicted of sodomy, which is illegal in Muslim Malaysia. Investigators are drawing links to this incident, trying to find out whether the pilot was disturbed by the news and turned suicidal.

However, rejecting any such allegations were his relatives and friends.

Sivarasa Rasiah-a member of the opposition party, he was one among thousands of followers and had volunteered for a number of campaigns in 2013, but he did not know Anwar in person.

"He was not a political fanatic, though we did have discussions over politics, but they all were relaxed ones," said Peter Chong, Sivarasa's aide to NDTV.

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