Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has come to the defence of AirAsia, saying that public servants should not be stopped from using the airline's services.

The national carrier Malaysia Airlines, Najib explained, may not always cover a particular route at a given time.

NONE "It depends on the suitability (for users). So we cannot stop government servants or officers from using AirAsia.

"A large part of the company is also owned by Malaysians (taxpayers). AirAsia's profit is also profit for the country," Najib ( right ) told a press conference after attending the Finance Ministry's Hari Raya open house in Putrajaya today.

Najib was responding to a query on the use of AirAsia by government servants, instead of the national carrier Malaysia Airlines.

Elaborating on the matter, Najib said AirAsia had also done its part in contributing to the country.

"Don't forget that AirAsia has brought many tourists into this country," he said.

The AirAsia group had come under attack from right wing conservatives after Air Asia X chief executive Azran Osman Rani criticised Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia for attacking the Chinese community.

The Congress of the Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) had even urged its members to boycott the renowned budget carrier.