18 counsellors from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry have been stationed at the Hotel Everly in Putrajaya where the families of passenger on flight MH370 are currently being placed.

"We are providing 24 hour support for anyone who needs it," said Deputy Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun.

She said the psychological situation of the family members is very critical at this point because it is very tough dealing with such a situation.

Many of them also expressed their frustration over the lack of information regarding the passengers of flight MH370, more than 30 hours after the aircraft disappeared from radar.

"At the moment, we are not reducing the number of counsellors that are on duty. It is more likely that we will increase it," said Datuk Azizah.

She also added that there has been an improvement in the interaction between the families and the counsellors.

"Yesterday, they were too distraught to even talk. Today seem to be more willing to seek us out to express their feelings," said Datuk Azizah.

The family members have been told to have their passports ready as they might be flown to an unspecified location.

MH370, a code share flight with China Southern Airlines, left KLIA for Beijing at 12:41am yesterday morning.

All communication with the plane was lost at 2:40am and no distress signal or call was received.

The flight was carrying 239 passengers, 38 of whom are Malaysians. It was scheduled to arrive at Beijing International Airport at 6:30am local time.