AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes today came under attack in the Dewan Rakyat, with MPs  blaming AirAsia for Malaysia Airline System's (MAS) woes, and allegedly putting KLIA2's sustainability at risk.

"This KLIA2 is being built merely to accommodate AirAsia. Recently, AirAsia said it will not use KLIA2. What risks are the government taking if AirAsia decides not to (use it)?

bung mokhtar parliament 080708 02 "Or is it better that they don't (as) we all know Tony Fernandes is the biggest scoundrel in the world. He takes 100 percent profits for all his ventures," Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan - left ) said.

He had said this when interjecting during Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha’s speech, who was winding-up during the committee stage debate for the ministry’s budget, this afternoon.

“The airport is not build for any one airline. The KL International Airport is used by 60 airlines, not just for AirAsia, and the same applies for KLIA2. These problems do not arise,” he said.

On whether AirAsia has committed to moving to KLIA2 from the Low Cost Carrier Terminal, Kong could only say that the budget carrier has been “very cooperative” in weekly meetings on KLIA2.

“AirAsia never officially said that it will not move to KLIA2. AirAsia has been cooperating with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) in weekly meetings on KLIA2 and shows readiness to move to KLIA2.

“The new AirAsia CEO said they will co-operate with MAHB,” he said.

He added that there are “no signs” that AirAsia will move its entire operations to Indonesia just yet, “even though it said that it would”.

“In any case, that is a private business decision,” he said, noting that KLIA2 is 69.3 percent complete as at Nov 1, 2012.

He also added that the cost overrun was due to additional requests by airlines, in accordance with their passenger projections.

“(KLIA2) is expected to be able to cater to 45 million passengers by 2020,” Kong said.

‘Get lost, AirAsia’

To this, Bung Mokhtar said: “On behalf of all Malaysia, I welcome AirAsia to get lost from the country.”

NONE Also joining the AirAsia bashing was Wee Choo Keong (Ind-Wangsa Maju - right ) who asked why MAS’ Kuala Lumpur-Sydney route was given to AirAsia X.

The minister responded that this had happened because MAS, in a letter on Dec 10, 2011, said it had no objection to other airlines taking up the route.

“AirAsia had stopped its flights to London, Paris and Mumbai. AirAsia X then asked for the route to Sydney, which was previously a controlled route.

“As such, the cabinet on Dec 14 approved (the application) by AirAsia X for this route... The point is, there was no abuse of power in this matter,” he said.

Bung Mokhtar then interjected to ask why AirAsia was given “special treatment to the detriment of MAS”.

“Can the ministry and government look at things properly? Don’t give AirAsia or AirAsia X priority when they are not able to keep up.

“They asked for the London and Paris routes, we gave. Now they cancel London. It’s problematic,” he said.

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