KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia is awaiting clearance to question witnesses in Germany and the US to conclude a probe into allegations of management irregularities at national carrier Malaysia Airline Systems (MAS), parliament was told today.

Deputy Home (Interior) Minister Zainal Abidin Zin said the government had yet to receive the go-ahead from the relevant authorities to call up five witnesses from the two countries to assist in investigations.

The airline lodged a police report in January accusing former chairman Tajudin Ramli and three former senior executives of management irregularities.

"This case has been acted on by the police based on reports lodged on January 4, but problems exist when we have to seek permission from the US and Germany in order to carry out investigations to question certain companies and individuals there," Zainal said.

Nearing completion

"The ministry's investigations are nearing completion and as many as 22 local witnesses have been called to answer some queries related to these irregularities," he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

MAS chairman Azizan Zainul Abidin has said the probe focussed particularly on several transactions involving the cargo division during Tajudin's tenure as chairman from 1994 to 2001.

The police report filed by MAS followed an audit ordered by the new management after the government renationalised it in February 2001.

The loss-making carrier, struggling under some RM10 billion in debt, embarked on a restructuring plan last year to return to the black by 2004. AFP