BBC Radio 5 Interview: bumped by a former US Ambassador to Ukraine

I was contacted via email at 5am this morning in KL (10pm in London) with a short notice request from London's BBC Radio 5 Producer Laura Jones.

She wanted me to appear on the Up All Night current affairs program with Stephen Nolan.

Could I be interviewed at 7.20am this morning on the recent MH17 tragedy, and explain how Malaysians feel after the second tragedy in just over four months?

Sure. I dilligently prepared and made notes, read the PM's and Transport Minister's last speeches, the airline's press releases, read the latest local press reports, and compiled some personal anecdotes to tell.

But I was bumped at the last minute by a former US Ambassador to Ukraine.

Good to know that even though it never happened, I was bumped by such a hardcore and heavyweight interviewee.

I'm not sure that I would have responded as professionally or factually as necessary as it is such an emotional time for us all here in KL.

We want to know the following:

Is someone deliberately targeting the relatively liberal Muslim country of Malaysia?

Are we just expendable pawns in a geopolitical game of chess between the US, Russia and China?

Will I ever fly with Malaysia Airlines again?

298 souls were lost on MH17. RIP.

And my deepest condolences to the friends and families. I cannot even begin to imagine their pain and suffering, especially during this holy month of Ramadan.