PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines Berhad can do well without the “Little Napoleons” who are running behind the scenes, the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) said today, calling for a cleanup “from the top”.
The union also rejected a suggestion that low-cost carrier AirAsia should take over MAS. Nufam said AirAsia would sink fast if it took over the national airline.
In a statement today, Nufam said the government must first know who these “Little Napoleons” are and also ascertain who was behind the failure of Malaysia Airlines.
“If the government is going to pump in more money to rescue Malaysia Airlines, we suggest that there be a total clean-up from the top first. We hope the government won’t make the same mistake it made in 2015 when 6,000 staff were terminated for nothing.”
The future of Malaysia Airlines hangs in the balance after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said recently that Malaysia is willing to sell the national carrier if there is a good offer.
However, various people objected to shutting down the airline. Among those against it were former prime minister Najib Razak and Malaysia Airlines chief executive Captain Izham Ismail.
This morning, influential blogger A Kadir Jasin suggested that AirAsia Group could save Malaysia Airlines from “dying” as the group had long-haul experience through AirAsia X Bhd.
Kadir noted that AirAsia had “married” Malaysia Airlines before, in a short lived share swap agreement in 2011 that fell through eight months later. He said the share swap deal was not well thought-out and faced a lot of resistance from the public. The situation has now changed, he added.
Nufam said AirAsia was strong in providing low-cost services, with passengers paying for every little comfort while full-service Malaysia Airlines’ cost of the ticket covers everything needed on the flight, from food to blankets.
“You simply can’t compare a durian with mangosteens; it’s totally not the same at all.”
Nufam disagreed that AirAsia was the best party to save Malaysia Airlines. “AirAsia will even sink faster than Malaysia Airlines since it will not enjoy a government bailout.
AirAsia is only the world’s best at its own level, competing with low-cost airlines, Nufam said. “Malaysia Airlines should be competing with Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways or perhaps the Emirates, not with AirAsia or any low-cost airline.”
AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes could play an adviser’s role to help rescue Malaysia Airlines, the union said.
Nufam said if the government wants to save the airline, it must start listening to the grassroots and those who know the airline well. The problem is the government seems to show they “don’t have any clue on how to run the national airline”.
Nufam reminded the government that the union sounded early warnings to the government and Khazanah Nasional over its 12-point five-year Malaysia Airlines Recovery Plan (MRP). Nufam hoped the airline will cease its spending, like buying more planes, for now. - FMT
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