PUTRAJAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Australia has offered to erect a memorial on its western coastline in memory of the lives lost in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 tragedy.

However, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said this move would be guided by the wishes of Malaysia and the families of those on board.

"In a fortnight's time, a new search will start and continued until all humanly possible efforts are taken to scour the zone," he said in a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Perdana Putra building here.

On the cost of the MH370 search, Abbott said Malaysia and Australia would contribute A$60 million (S$71 million) each.