Yes, though the off-course radar contacts were eventually acknowledged after having been reported, and then completely denied. From the New York Times: "On Wed

Yes, though the off-course radar contacts were eventually acknowledged after having been reported, and then completely denied. From the New York Times: "On Wednesday, after four days of reticence and evasive answers, the Malaysian military acknowledged that it had recorded, but initially ignored, radar signals that could have prompted a mission to intercept and track the missing jetliner. The radar data vastly expanded the area where the plane, which took off early Saturday from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing, might have traveled." http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/asia/missing-malaysia-airlines-flight-370.html?hp&_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/asia/missing-malaysi... With that track record it's hard to know whether to credit the Malaysian government's vehement denials.