Why Mueller when a local can do the job? - Abdul Aziz

The appointment of Christoph R Mueller as the MAS Newco’s chief executive officer were met with mixed reactions including from MAS’s former CEO Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman who felt that there was no need to hire a foreign expert.

He believed a local expert could do the job as well as Mueller, a German citizen and outgoing CEO of Dublin-based Aer Lingus Group Plc.

He said the focus now is not to restructure or recover MAS but to run the new company, MAS Newco.

“People don’t understand. Now we are not recovering MAS but his job is to run a new company. The old MAS will be closed and its assets be brought to a new company,” he said when contacted.

“That is why a good local candidate could also do the job,” he said.

Abdul Aziz said there is a difference between recovering MAS and running a new company.

He said Mueller might face huge challenges following the differences of environment in the aviation sector in the country, national policy and values carried by MAS all these while.

“He does not have the spirit of MAS. It is not about bringing profit alone but the country’s image and national interests also need to be taken care,” he said.

Abdul Aziz also expressed his concern that the welfare of MAS staff may not guaranteed as MAS Newco will operate under a new company and abide by MAS Laws.

“Union can no longer be an obstruction, it would be gotten rid off under the MAS laws. Staff services would be terminated and then re-hired after interviews,” he said.

When asked who the local expert should be, Abdul Aziz said he cannot name the person.

“But, if I am asked, I can provide two or three names,” he said.

Mueller’s appointment comes into force on Jan 1, 2015 but his contract with Aer Lingus will only come to end in May 2015.

Mueller’s appointment is among the 12 MAS restructuring exercise, announced by its biggest shareholder, Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

Mueller has vast experience in the aviation sector after turning around Aer Lingus which almost went bankrupt in 2009 due to fierce competition in the Europe market.