
“With the latest CEO leaving, this is the third CEO that has left the airline within three years,” Nufam president Ismail Nasaruddin told a news conference at the union’s office at Empire Tower here today.
“The reason the airline is going through such turmoil is because Khazanah’s recovery plans keep changing.”
The current managing director and CEO, Peter Bellew, has announced his resignation to return to his former employer Ryanair, just over a year after being appointed to the post.
Previously, Ahmad Jauhari left in 2015 and was replaced with Christoph Mueller who then resigned in April 2016.
“Malaysia Airlines changes CEOs like we change underwear,” said Ismail.
“The union, workers and people of Malaysia deserve an answer and Khazanah has to provide that answer.
“We are getting complaints from the ground that there is interference from Khazanah and that the airline’s primary objective – safe air travel for its passengers – is becoming very difficult to meet.
“This happens because Malaysia Airlines is being milked out so that money can be spent unnecessarily.
“We wonder where are all those assets Malaysia Airlines used to have as it has lost billions. Today, we see CEOs who Khazanah hires are all leaving, secretly and quietly, and even making deals with other airlines behind our backs. Is that good?”
Ismail also hit out at Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai who said Bellew’s resignation came as a surprise.
“The transport minister looks like he doesn’t know anything.
“Don’t tell me Bellew doesn’t have a contract with Malaysia Airlines and that he can leave anytime he wants?”
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