Maseu wants government to intervene in MAS management

The Malaysia Airlines System Employees Union (Maseu) has called on the government to intervene in the administration of Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) by appointing new leaders in the airline industry to head the national airline.

Maseu executive secretary Mohd Jabarullah Abdul Kadir said various internal problems, including the huge loss of RM2.52 billion suffered by MAS in 2011 had damaged the reputation of the country's pioneer airlines.

"As a union under MAS, we are worried and cannot bear to see this development," he told a media conference at Maseu office in Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya Thursday.

He said many parties unclear of the crisis weighing on MAS, had accused its employees and the union for all the problems, including the issue of financial losses.

"We want a management which can put up the best strategy for MAS...as it is now, we do not see anything major in MAS. As such, MAS needs to get a knowledgeable leadership in the business...," added Mohd Jabarullah.

Meanwhile, Maseu secretary-general Ab Malek Ariff said the union which represented 15,000 MAS employees appealed to the government to give serious attention to the issue of appointing a new management.

The issue of MAS management cropped up when there were talks of merging the company with low-cost carrier AirAsia, but the move was cancelled, following protest by various parties.