Celcom boss turns down MAS job

Celcom Axiata Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly quashed rumours that he will be helming the ailing Malaysian Airlines (MAS).

He said reports of him replacing MAS CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya are completely untrue, reports the New Straits Times.

Shazalli said he wanted to stay in Celcom for the next five years and turn it into a stronger company.

Shazalli’s name had cropped up as a potential CEO to helm the ailing airlines together with Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala and Khazanah Nasional Berhad’s Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim.

Last month, Idris had denied that he will be heading to MAS.

Apart from a new face to helm the company, Khazanah also announced that some 6,000 of the airline’s 20,000 staff would be laid off under its RM6 billion recovery plan.

While some of those exiting could opt for a voluntary separation scheme (VSS), others could be absorbed into other companies under the Khazanah stable after undergoing a re-skilling programme.

The 'new MAS' company, which will commence by July 1, 2015, will see a reset of the operating business model to incorporate a lower cost structure – among the savings coming from renegotiated and improved supply contracts and labour practices as well as refocusing more on profitable regional routes rather than loss-making long-haul destinations.