Review of Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu in Economy

Hi folks!
This report is the continuation of my previous story of my short return journey to Shah Alam, all on-board wide body aircrafts. If anyone missed my earlier report, you can go here>>>http://flight-report.com/en/report-10497.html
Welcome to Malaysia Airlines System Berhad.
1st June 2015 - a D-Day for the entire Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) employees as they start to get to know their fate whether most of them (14,000) may get a job at the new company, to be called Malaysia Airlines Berhad, or being listed among 6,000 who would eventually be laid-off with compensation.
BACKGROUND
I was asked by my boss to attend a meeting on behalf of our agency at Shah Alam, the state capital of Selangor, which lies about 30km from Kuala Lumpur. Realising that MAS would upgrade some scheduled domestic flights to larger aircrafts on selected routes, I took the opportunity by booking my return tickets to KUL, all on-board Boeing 777. The upgrade was due to expected surge in domestic travellers during 2 week long school holidays, with parents taking the opportunity to bring their children for a holiday, perhaps a bit further than simply driving.
Flight: MH2612
Aircraft type: Boeing 777-200ER
Aircraft registration: 9M-MRF (Delivered new to MAS on 18th March 1998)
ATD: 8.41AM (Malaysia Standard Time)
ATA: 10.43AM (Malaysia Standard Time)
Duration: 2 hours and 2 minutes
Seat: 15A
THE FLIGHT
I was hoping that this flight would be operated using Boeing 777 as scheduled. Although I am glad that I finally got the opportunity to try out MAS's new A330, but I still have a soft spot for the airline's B777. It was the airline's flagship aircraft for a long time alongside their Boeing 747-400.
The flight was scheduled to depart at 8.25AM. Since Shah Alam is located about an hour's away from KUL, I took a taxi from the hotel at 6.00AM. The sky was still dark although the early rays of sunrise begin to break through the sky. Since, I also done my check-in online, I went straight to the boarding lounge, passing through the usual security and got ID and boarding pass checked.

There is a restaurant serving popular local delicacies near our boarding lounge. I took the opportunity ordering full breakfast of Nasi Lemak, expecting that the in-flight meal would not satisfy my morning hunger.

Whilst enjoying my breakfast, a nearby patron talked to someone on her mobile phone, apparently shocked to know that there was a (rather) strong earthquake jolting Sabah. I could hear her conversation since I sat just beside her table. I was skeptical at first whether the earthquake happened at that particular location in Malaysia, and I tried to ascertain whether she is Sabahan or Indonesian since Sabahan accent can be quite similar to Indonesian accent. Then, after I finished my breakfast, I looked at my mobile phone and saw dozens of WhatsApp messages popping up . Apparently, my colleagues were all talking about the earthquake in Sabah. Quite a big story.

At about 8.15AM, boarding was announced, starting with familes with children and business class passengers. I am among the last ones to board the aircraft. Upon entering the door, I was greeted warmly by the cabin crew. Once I reached the cabin, it was the same cabin layout since the aircraft was delivered in 1998. Software update was done to the IFE system in 2005, alongside business class overhaul, though that was 10 years ago. However, a big plus for being on-board the airline's B777 is that the economy class seat pitch is spacious at 34. Despite, being of older design, the seat is very comfortable, as cotton fabrics are still used to cover the seat cushions, instead of leather that can be found on most Malaysia Airlines fleets today. In my opinion, it is still better than the today's generation of economy class seats.

Just like my previous flight, the portion is inadequate. I hope the new airline can increase the portion size to perhaps, twice on what we have now. The omelette contains mushroom slices, with baked potatoes and sausage. The cookie is very crunchy, not too sweet and it is made from oats.

There were children on-board our flight that day since it was school holidays. However, I felt a bit unease due to the presence of a crying baby. The parents and the baby were seated at the same row as mine. The infant, for most of the flight kept on crying. I didn't blame the parents. Perhaps, their child couldn't bear the pressure difference that can cause pain in the ear drums. One of the cabin crews was kind enough to give the parents on tips to keep their infant calm throughout the flight, though none that worked.

After I took the above photo, an airport staff beside me told that the earthquake caused minor damage at the airport's upper level, with some damage reported at the city. However, he also said the earthquake caused major damages near Mount Kinabalu, close to the earthquake's epicentre. The earthquake was reported to be 5.9 on the Richter scale and occurred at 7.15AM, the largest ever recorded in Malaysia's history. As I write this report, 16 deaths are confirmed with 2 people still missing. All casualties comprise climbers and a mountain guide at Mount Kinabalu. They died due to being crushed by falling rocks and boulders.

That's it folks. Thanks for reading.