As flagged earlier, the Malaysian authorities HAVE been withholding information.
The last time the plane was detected was near Pulau Perak, in the Straits of Malacca, at 2.40am," Berita Harian quotes Rodzali as saying.
Pulau Perak (Pulau means "island") is approximately 85 NM WNW of Penang Airport.
The terrorism theory is fast losing traction so what we are left with is a, currently inexplicable, action by the flight crew.