As a taxpayer, I read with great pain, disgust and sorrow that the national airline has sunk to such low levels. Imagine losses of RM648.4 million in the first six months (Qtr 1: RM280.7m and Qtr 2: RM367.7m).

What has happened to the accountability and responsibility of the senior team? It stinks to read such negative news. Being the national airline it connotes a negative picture of Malaysia to foreigners. Why can our neighbours' airlines - SIA and Thai Airlines - do well despite the competition? Why can AirAsia be creating waves while MAS plunges into the red?

I wish to relate an incident a few years ago when returning from a Melbourne on a MAS flight where I notice the sugar sachets given was expired stuff. Upon returning to Malaysia with a sample of the expired packet, I called MAS office and was given the run around. After the fourth attempt, I was told that it must have been an oversight but told in a very unwelcome voice. There were no apologies or thanking me for my feedback.

But the new managing director Idris Jala should first address problems related to non-performing senior staff at the highest level - the deadwood. How could MAS have lost so much money in such a short space of time? Obviously there is so many "hands-off" staff on "permanent holiday"

The buck must stop somewhere. Even while waiting for the new managing director, what was the senior team doing? Are they expecting the managing director to take all the unpopular decisions? Miracles don't happen without a good team effort. If such a stinking attitude remains among the senior staff then Idris Jala will have a mammoth task ahead of him.

The fact that everyone is waiting for the new managing director to fix all the problems speaks poorly of us Malaysians. I appeal to all "heavyweights" and politicians to allow Idris to run the MAS recovery show without interference. He has a major job and has to be real tough to make unpopular decisions.

The national airline's success reflects on all of us Malaysians and has a direct bearing and impact on our credibility and integrity. But to change the mindset of its senior staff would be difficult. I would rather let them go and go for people who have the right aptitude and attitude which includes total integrity and accountability.

Good luck MAS!