12-point plan needs to be studied, elaborated, digested - Maseu

The 12-point plan unveiled by Khazanah Nasional Bhd to enable Malaysia Airlines System Berhad (MAS) to return to sustained profitability needs to be studied, elaborated and digested, said the Malaysian Airlines System Employees Union (Maseu).

In welcoming the restructuring plan, Maseu Executive Secretary Mohd Jabbarullah Abd Kadir said there are certain issues the union ought to discuss with its members.

"The restructuring plan is huge and has an enormous impact on 13,500 MAS employees who are our members.

"Any restructuring plan to turn MAS around is welcome, but we need ample time to decide whether it is good or bad for the staff. On paper, the plan maybe great, but what about implementation?" he told Bernama in an interview.

He said it is crucial to evaluate the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) formula as it may appeal senior staff but not junior ones with several years of working experience.

Mohd Jabbarullah said former MAS CEO (2005-2009) Datuk Seri Idris Jala (now Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) had set a benchmark on VSS by offering one-and-a-half-month's pay multiplied by years of service to 5,000 MAS staff.

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) President, Ismail Nasaruddin described the plan as a normal restructuring process, but the details had been left out.

"Key positions of 6,000 employees to be laid off or which divisions are involved are still a question mark. The figure is huge and how this process will do any good to them is yet to be seen.

"There are pros and cons but it's still too early to comment, especially on the finer details of the process, the amount of severance to be paid to the staff, and whether the figure is acceptable to them," he said.

He said Nufam had to study the quantum offered by other major airlines like Japan Airlines and Garuda.

On the proposed MAS Act to facilitate the restructuring of the national flag career, Ismail said the NewCo registration is a concern to all, knowing who are the new key players.

Meanwhile, a MAS pilot with 20 years of experience, said the idea to form a new company to salvage MAS was floated during the AirAsia-MAS share swap and he supported it as long as it gives positive results.

On the RM6 billion restructuring fund, he said it should be sufficient as it is the almost the same amount mentioned by Idris Jala when he tried to initiate a turnaround plan.

On the VSS, he said MAS employees, who are close to retirement age, would likely take the offer, but the quantum should be fair, for instance, two or three months salaries multiplied by years of service while the negotiation should be transparent.

A leading stewardess with 18 years of experience said the restructuring plan would inject renewed confidence in the airline again after two air mishaps.

"It could be a morale booster that we need," she said.

On the VSS, she said, "It's better than getting nothing at all. But it's optional and depends on how much the company is willing to pay."

"It's been a tragic year and we need reaffirmation from the government that MAS can be revived," she added.