If MAS was so screwed up they’d have died long ago a’la DRB-HICOM before The anGel dropped out of the skies. Fundamentally MAS is operationally sound – not perfect, but at an operational level they’re not idiots. Numerous IATA/IOSA audits reinforce that fact as does their joining OneWorld (even if it’s partly political). The CEOs of AirAsia can bleat all they like about IATA, etc citing politics and cost etc, but would they pass a pre-entry audit? Very easy to say “we don’t want/need to be a part of THAT club”. Definitely they’ve been able to raise the ire of the Australian regulator on an annual basis and get audited, MAS just gets a few warning letters.

MAS goes wrong at Management level – or more to the point, Management interference and that goes all the way to the top of the flagpole. MAS is a GLC with too many hands in the till, figuratively speaking (maybe literally too). Sad to see a proud flag carrier hobbled by politics, corruption and generally abused for outside financial gain. Yeah sure SQ never went cap-in-hand to LKY but then what kinda stupid statement is that – of course they bloomin’ wouldn’t because that would be like asking themselves, duh.

I think A Brick In The Wall said it and it’s worth repeating, MAS formed out of a need to connect a nation, that was the Government’s desire in the day (Singapore had a very different geographic perspective and a different leader). That is still one of the mandates that MAS follows today but in this screwed up financial, business world we operate in today the social service of national connectivity head-butts with economic reality and this is a puzzle which can never be solved to everyone’s satisfaction. At the very least until the decision (at Govt level) whether or not MAS’ service to the national interest or service to their shareholders is the top priority they will likely never ‘move on’. The rakyat also needs to decide what they want (since we’re all taxpayers). Realise though that while MAS may appear to cost millions in taxpayer’s money annually, the airline brings in (and generates) billions in revenue each year in multiple industries touching practically every Malaysian in some way. To wish MAS gone, or be more like AirAsia, or some other utopian fantasy… be careful what you wish for. The likes of AirAsia will never completely fill the shoes of MAS, it isn’t economically worth it for well… guess. National carriers which made painful transitions from legacy to accountable got leaner and meaner in every sense and not always pleasantly so.

AirAsia maybe a national icon, but MAS is a national treasure (albeit with too many key holders). I for one hope MAS can clean up her act a little, but operationally we’re on top of things (and our 2 year extension of AOC proves that!). I wish our Management was different, but you can’t have everything. I hope this bunch will be honest, hopefully that’s not asking too much. AirAsia… can go fly a kite! (just not a wau kuching).

Is it a numbers game?

There are other LCCs who have also placed sizeable orders for new aircraft to expand their fleets.

Hubris or sound business sense?

What about comparing the fleet expansion plans of, say, MAS and SIA, based on available information in Wikipedia?

Just so that we are clear about this, please tell us who/what is “Anti Kling” and “Karam”?

Ok, back to the topic.

When is a bailout not a bailout?

Answer: when the federal government plans to issue RM5.3 billion of Islamic notes under a 20-year programme via a SPV in order to fund MAS’s fleet expansion.

Isn’t this a sugar-coated way of bailing out MAS? Again?

Doesn’t MAS have the financial strength or credibility (seeing as how Khazanah is a major shareholder) to go out to the capital markets or financial institutions on it’s own?

You may say what you like about AirAsia, but it hasn’t gone cap-in-hand to the Malaysian government to ask for funds to finance it’s fleet expansion.

You may raise the example of Japan Airlines. But JAL went into bankruptcy, did a drastic restructuring which involved swinging staff cuts and routes rationalization, and emerged a much leaner and profitable operation.

Since it was set up, Singapore Airlines has not sought funds from the Singapore government. Neither has it been “bailed out”. Yet it’s profitability record and fleet expansion and service enhancement plans puts MAS to shame.

For how long is the federal government going to keep on propping up MAS by tossing it one lifeline after another?

Next time you fly to London, pls tell Boris Johnson the London Mayor to get AA to land at the Thames Estuary airport that he spoke about.

And no point trying to talk to Richard Branson, the Kling Karam’s UK contact man – Richard still having a hangover on the loss of the Railway franchise bid.

When DAP started hogging the so-called Malaysian Malaysia slogan upon the party formation some 46 years ago, they already appeared to be anti-Malay. Wanting equality without acknowledging the Special Position of the Malays under Article 153 of the Constitution. I agree with Tun Dr Mahathir that equality in this country is subject to recognizing the Special Position clause in the Constitution and that is one of the sensitive clauses that are protected under the Sedition Act 1948 – cannot even be discussed, let alone amended. Questioning that will invite counter-questioning of the citizenship rights of the non-Malays (the quid pro quo) and it’s not good for everybody.

DAP has been trying to subvert that in statements and speeches, culminating in the fiery rhetorics put out during the election campaign speeches of 1969. Those had led to heightened feelings, and the race riots erupted on 13 May of that year.

We must therefore warn the DAP to avoid doing the same in these months leading to PRU13, and keep on whacking them and their “strategy .. to create doubt and inculcate hatred on every decision or measures the government make and especially when it involved successful Malay figure”, and blast them for trying to make it appear that “being rich and successful Malay is an offense in this country”.