The success of private airline AirAsia is proof that Malaysians aren't the ones incompetent at managing aviation, but BN is the one at fault said DAP.

In a statement today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he "strongly disagrees" with  former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that MAS had to appoint an expatriate chief executive officer because Malaysians are, in the ex-premier's words, " stupid ".

Lim ( left ), who is Bagan MP, said it was BN that is stupid as Malaysian Airlines (MAS) had failed despite the vast amount of government funds it has received, unlike AirAsia that has succeeded without any government assistance.

"The success of AirAsia is well-known internationally.

"Without a single cent in government support and subsidies, they have transformed the airline industry by offering affordable fares where 'everyone can fly'.

"In fact, it is BN and not Malaysians who is stupid, by relying on racism to cloak incompetent cronies instead of spotting talented Malaysians right before their very eyes such as the AirAsia team of Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranon and Azran Osman Rani," he said.

"The contrast could not be greater. MAS recorded huge losses despite the federal government offering tens of billions of ringgit and charging higher fares whilst Air Asia recorded huge profits despite charging budget fares."

'Be transparent with CEO's terms'

He added while AirAsia has employed the best and brightest, Malaysians and foreigners alike, Putrajaya had instead let off and sometimes even rewarded "bad behaviour".

Lim said he hoped the incoming MAS CEO Christoph Mueller, a German and the former CEO of Ireland's national carrier Aer Lingus, will be given a free hand to clean up MAS' mismanagement.

He added this should be the immediate priority instead of "taking the easy way out" by slashing jobs.

Lim also urged the government to reveal the terms and benefits for hiring Mueller, "to demonstrate MAS' new-found commitment to transparency and accountability".

Meanwhile, NGO Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (Mipas) secretary-general S Barathidasan too said he disagreed with Mahathir's assertion that Malaysians were "stupid" in handling an aviation company.

Instead, he urged the government to rope in Fernandes to assist in MAS' revival.