KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said here Monday that Malaysia has deployed six assets to assist the search and rescue efforts for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, which is led by Indonesian authorities.

He said Malaysia has deployed three vessels and three aircraft for the search operation.

"The Royal Malaysian Navy vessels, the KD PAHANG, KD LEKIP and KD LEKIU, have been deployed and will comb the entire span of the search area," Liow said, adding that the Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft have been assigned and are currently searching the area east of PuJau Belitung.

Liow also said that as the flight QZ8501 was registered in Indonesia and the state of occurency was also in Indonesia, it was an Indonesian plane. Malaysia was assisting the Indonesian side in the search and rescue efforts, he added.