COMMENT | With election mode in full gear, many are caught up with the excitement of the dissolution of Parliament, who the candidates are who will defending their seats and who will be dropped, the fresh faces that will emerge, the old guard who will be making way, and the dirt that is going to be thrown during what is expected to be the most volatile election campaign.

While candidates are being driven, ferried, flown and sailed from one area to another, this is a good reminder that those in charge of their welfare and safety to ensure they arrive at their destinations in one piece and are able to serve their constituents if they eventually win.

With this in mind, one’s thoughts are on candidates in East Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, who need the use of aircraft to get to their voters due to the vastness and the unforgiving terrain of this huge state.

However, Hornbill Skyways, Sarawak’s premier state-owned aviation company, has had an unfortunate reputation when it comes to safety records.

Not that there have not been fatal air crashes involving other aviation companies in other states – state-owned Sabah Air has had its share of incidents, such as the 1976 chopper crash that killed 11 people including chief minister Fuad Stephens and several of his cabinet members.

More recently in 2011, a Sabah Air chopper crashed, albeit after safely transporting then deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin to a function in Sibu. Unfortunately, the pilot succumbed to his injuries.

Hornbill Skyways though still holds the record for more fatal air crashes – a total of 12 crashes since 1982 that took the lives of 25 people, including politicians and government servants. Of these incidents, the causes of three are still unknown – in 1982, 2004 and 2005, all involving Bell choppers.

There were also two attributed to pilot error, a fatal Bell crash in 2004 that killed staff and officials from the chief minister’s and deputy chief minister’s offices, as well as the May 6, 2016 air crash that killed six people including Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Noriah Kasnon, Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairperson and Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities secretary-general Sundaran Annamalai.

This, while a chartered transport, was still Hornbill Skyways’ responsibility to ensure that the aircraft was airworthy and the pilots competent. The Filipino pilot in this case was said to be unfamiliar with the terrain and the unpredictable weather patterns along the flight route.

The reasons for the other incidents include weather, engine failure, loss of control and even fuel shortage.

One is not raising these matters to scare our Yang Berhormats as they zoom from one ceramah to another, but the safety records of the airlines do not give one the confidence of arriving at one’s destination in one piece.

Allegations of mismanagement

Hornbill Skyways executive director Ambrose Blikau, who is also Katibas assemblyman, has not responded to queries on assurances over the airlines’ safety record.

The testimony of a former general manager of the airlines also does not help where passenger confidence is concerned.

Mohamed Asharat Ramzan Ali, in his successful unlawful dismissal action brought against the company in the Industrial Court in 2010, had raised allegations of fraud and mismanagement, which were vehemently denied by company executives.

(While investigations were carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, there have been no evidence found or charges instituted.)

Asharat claimed that he had put in stricter maintenance and safety measures following two fatal air crashes in 2004 but they were not followed, and his efforts to sack pilots and staff were met with resistance from the Hornbill Skyways board.

This article is not intended to raise old wounds, especially for the families of victims in Hornbill crashes, but is meant to alert those who will be using the airlines services to ensure and demand that the airlines adheres to the strictest safety procedures.

As a state-owned company that is responsible for the lives of many very important people, it should step up its efforts to establish more confidence in its aircraft and pilots. Where perception is concerned, the statistics are not to Hornbill Skyway’s advantage.

Before venturing into media and stakeholder relations consultancy, TERENCE FERNANDEZ spent 20 years in the newsroom, covering everything from beauty contests to change in governments.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.