MAS loss not caused by employees - Nufam

The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM) has refuted claims that Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) had suffered losses due to its employees.

According to Bloomberg, MAS had posted a net loss of RM935 million for 2013 and Maybank had estimated its potential loss to surge up to RM1.2 billion for the year 2014.

In a statement by NUFAM, the company's failure in achieving its targeted profit and revenue was not caused by its employees.

“It is due to some factors that is still denied by some parties until today.

"It is the result of the negligence by the top management in MAS and not from lower grade employees,” said the union.

The union also said lower grade workers who have helped the company to reduce costs are often affected by this crisis.

NUFAM urged the government to appoint a credible third party to act as a mediator to resolve the crisis and not appoint individuals who have previously run the company.

"We do not need to make a major reshuffling, but must refine the error and negligence that occurred.

"MAS management must also learn to be make adjustments just like their employees. They want a high remuneration but if the company still fails to gain profit, it will still hurt MAS," the statement added.

NUFAM also said that many cabin crew have given their full cooperation and commitment to the company but have slowly lost their confidence in those leading it.

"The frustration is very prominent in their face until now. MAS is their place to earn a living. Where will they go if many of these workers are laid off?

"Do not forget MAS has gained big profit because of these 20,000 staff,” said Nufam.

According to Reuters, MAS is expected to terminate 5,000 to 6,000 out of its 20,000 staff as part of its restructuring plan to be announced by its major shareholder Khazanah Nasional Bhd (Khazanah).