A senior expatriate manager at ailing national carrier Malaysia Airlines has resigned, officials said today, following a controversy over his salary.

The airline's senior general manager, Chris Andrews, came under the spotlight after it emerged that the loss-making flag carrier was paying him RM7,525 a day.

"I can confirm his resignation. It was in an internal circular," an airline official told AFP , declining to elaborate or give reasons for the departure.

The opposition has attacked what it called extravagant spending habits at Malaysia Airlines following revelations of big bills for corporate artwork and salaries for expatriate staff.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang has criticised the airline's spending as "shocking and unnacceptable" and described the purchase of paintings for its headquarters "a gross and irresponsible extravagance."

RM1.55 million paintings

The airline reportedly bought three paintings worth RM1.55 million.

The troubled carrier recently announced its second straight quarterly loss in the three months to September.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said that the government was willing to extend loans to help it return to profitability but ruled out a bail-out, as has happened in the past.

In 2001, following allegations of mismanagement, the government controversially bought then-chairman Tajudin Ramli's stake in the carrier for more than twice the market value, a move followed by a restructuring exercise.