I am becoming annoyed by the continued reference to the government's purchase of the 29 percent stake in Malaysian Airline System from Tajudin Ramli as a bailout of MAS. What is worse is that those promoting this idea of a MAS bailout are those who are most opposed to it in the first place.

Can't they see that of the billions to be paid out, not a single sen will reach MAS? Can't they see that it was a personal possession of Tajudin - through Naluri Bhd - that got bought at the puffed-up value using taxpayers' money? All that money paid goes to Naluri and from there on to whoever is behind that facade.

If there is truth in that MAS is in desperate financial straits, then obviously none of what has been paid out over this purchase goes to securing MAS' position. Therefore, in the interim, MAS' precarious position remains just that... precarious!

If further new injection of funds is needed in order for MAS to continue as a going concern, then it is only then that any funds injected would amount to a MAS bailout. Until then, considering that the government found it more expedient at this time that the allotted billions was first appropriated to Tajudin rather than MAS, it would appear that it was Tajuddin who would have been in greater dire straits than MAS was and is.

If on the other hand it is found that MAS is just as badly in need of funds as Tajudin was, then what we can see from this is the government's prioritisation of preferences. And it would seem that between Tajudin and MAS, the former wins out. Tajudin stands out as a greater national treasure than MAS.

The government has hoodwinked the people into believing that in order to save a national treasure, MAS, the buyout at twice the market price was appropriate. We can see from the above argument that the national treasure in question is really none other than Tajudin, not MAS!

A lot more of taxpayer's money has to be paid in order to salvage MAS. Only then does a bailout happen. All that we have had until now is a Tajudin Ramli bailout.

I would also like to highlight one other matter. Does anyone recall any major publicity recently over MAS' new Boeing acquisition, Mastar (or something like that)? A real beauty, fit for more than just any king. Beautiful leather seats, lots of room for sleeping and lazing around, three different levels of seating - Executive, VIPs, and VVIPs - probably fewer than 50 can fly in it. It was used by our King's entourage to go to the Sydney Olympics last year and it is for hire!

No wonder MAS loses money!