YOURSAY ‘AirAsia was smart enough to pull out of MAS joint-venture.’

AirAsia boss gloats over MAS losses

Sirach: Seeing the name ‘Malaysia’ displayed on state-of-the-art airplanes does evoke a sense of pride, no doubt about it. If the flag-carrier airline makes money, that’s fine.

Otherwise, it’s plainly (no pun intended) like rebadging cars - calling them national cars and selling them at a loss to boot. It is a criminal waste when the money could be put to so much better use.

MAS has burnt billions over the years in the ever elusive hope that profits are just around the corner.

Does having a “national airline” matter so much when it costs so much? Or is it just empty pride that keeps us believing in the false dawn?

Swipenter: I think AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes should not be gloating too much. You see, besides MAS buying 100 new Airbus planes as part of a turnaround plan, they have already initiated cost-cutting measures by serving their customers ‘naked’ nasi lemak.

Just imagine how much they can save by not including slices of cucumber and fried peanuts in their nasi lemak.

Anonymous_5fb: Certain types of Malays think weirdly. In the name of ‘jaga maruah’ (maintaining dignity) and ‘demi bangsa and agama’ (for the sake of race and religion), they insist that the MAS chief executive officer position be exclusive only to Malays - even though the ones appointed have little knowledge and expertise in those fields.

And for the same reason, they insist on MAS flying, despite making huge losses year after year. Weird people, but not all Malays like that.

Anonymous #07688157: I do not think it is an issue of which race runs MAS. It is an issue of a competent person to head this airline. If there is a competent non-bumiputera, then he or she should be appointed. If there is a more competent bumiputera, then let it be.

I can’t help saying this, but AirAsia's nasi lemak definitely tastes better than MAS’ nasi lemak. There are just too many non-profit contracts signed by MAS.

Lao Kor: MAS must downsize its bloated manpower. It should seriously re-look into its contracts with all suppliers.

These are the two most urgent and important areas. If it is unable to courageously reduce employee size and cut down on outsourcing contract costs, talking of any turnaround plans are futile.

Just look at how AirAsia manages itself, the CEO of MAS should know how to do it. As a small investor in MAS, this is my wish.

Wg321: MAS is like the bloated 1.42 million civil servants in the government. Due to political interference, MAS is simply not able to retrench its oversized staff. There is no way that MAS can get rid of the "elephant in the room" without political repercussion.

Trublumalaysian: Give MAS to Tony Fernandes and his team to run it exclusively. He will exhume all the sewer rats within, along with the leeching cronies and bloated contracts.

He will turn the airline around in no time. It's a fact of truth that most know, but refuse to acknowledge.

Abasir: The obstacles deliberately placed in the way of AirAsia mirrors those placed in the way of non-Malays to make life more difficult for them.

What the ‘ketuanan’ fools don't realise is that a forced struggle to survive actually builds strength, innovation, and ingenuity - all traits that push one to excel. AirAsia is a shining example of success built on that.

MAS, on the other hand, is proving the old adage that giving an able man a pair of crutches will make him disabled for life. But this is all too much to consider for small ‘ketuanan’ minds.

Fernz: I hope Tony Fernandes won't be accused by Malay NGOs of insulting the Malays, Islam and the sultans.

FireFly was no competition for AirAsia. In fact, after the AirAsia-MAS tie-up, Sabahans and Sarawakians suffered through higher fares, fewer flights and fewer direct flights.

MAS is an unsustainable business model. They should diversify into aircraft maintenance, catering for airlines, fuel supply to airlines, aircraft leasing, building airports, hospitality products tied to its flights and investments, etc, to break even and show the flag.

Bad Head: AirAsia was smart enough to pull out of the MAS joint venture. Continue to fight for cheap airport tax, all Malaysians (maybe except Umno supporters) are behind you.

Anonymous #22878930: To AirAsia, fly high. At least the world can see one capable Malaysian company. You can’t go wrong when you practice excellence. And to MAS, why fly?

Son of PJ: BN is like King Midas gone awry - everything it touches turns into something totally useless to the common people.

MAS ‘hancur’ (several times now), Tenaga Nasional Berhad ‘hancur’, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) ‘hancur’, and Malaysia ‘hancur’.

Single Malt: The one and only reason for the failures of all government-sponsored business entities, is the failure to practice meritocracy. One should know what I am referring to.

We have been hit by a national 'virus', a strain named ‘U1M3N7N9’ which is already developing into the pandemic stage.

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