MCA tells Loke again to get serious on helping MAS

Following the latest incident involving Malaysia Airlines (MAS), MCA has reiterated its call to Transport Minister Anthony Loke to provide serious help for the national carrier.

MCA Youth deputy chief Mike Chong said this is the fifth incident involving MAS since June.

“Loke must realise that the frequency of such incidents not only tarnishes MAS’ reputation as a national carrier but also affects the safety of passengers,” he added in a statement.

Chong (above) noted that the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia has reduced the validity period of Malaysia Airlines Berhad’s air operator certificate following a probe into the technical issues, requiring it to renew the certification annually instead of every three years.

“Subsequently, Loke and his ministry must take urgent constructive measures to actively overcome the problems MAS faces, including (addressing issues of) an ageing fleet, lack of mechanical components and expertise.

“This includes helping to negotiate the sharing of resources, whether through joint ventures, loans and leases with other industry players and operators,” he added.

Another plane turns back

Earlier, it was reported that a MAS plane from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Incheon International Airport, South Korea, was reported to have turned back today.

According to the Flightradar24 website, the flight using an Airbus A330-323 aircraft took off from KLIA at 12.01am before turning around and landing safely at KLIA a few hours later.

According to information on the global flight tracker website, flight MH66 was supposed to take off at 11.30pm yesterday.

However, MAS has yet to issue any statement regarding the matter.

Previously, MCA president Wee Ka Siong also urged Loke and the government to investigate and assist MAS, which he said was suffering from a “crisis of confidence”.

However, the transport minister told him not to create panic.

Wee, a former transport minister, had also listed the incidents involving MAS flights since the beginning of 2023, which were:

• Jan 9, 2023 - A MAS Airbus A330 experienced a significant fuel system issue during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne, resulting in an emergency landing in Melbourne. The aircraft landed safely and no injuries were reported.

• April 3, 2023 - A MAS flight was forced to return to Kuala Lumpur shortly after takeoff due to technical issues with the aircraft. This incident drew attention due to its erratic flight path, which was noted by both passengers and air traffic controllers.

• July 10, 2023 - A MAS flight bound for Kuching had to abort takeoff at the KLIA after experiencing technical issues. The flight was delayed but all passengers were safe.

• Sept 14, 2023 - A MAS Boeing 737-800 encountered a runway excursion during takeoff at the Melbourne Airport. The aircraft continued its flight after the issue was resolved. This incident occurred just days after a similar runway excursion by a different airline at the same airport, prompting an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

• June 20, 2024 - A flight bound for Kuala Lumpur made an emergency landing at the Hyderabad Airport in India due to an engine problem. The flight had over 100 passengers on board and all landed safely.

• June 24, 2024 - Flight MH780 from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok was forced to return to KLIA due to pressurisation issues. The aircraft made an emergency descent but landed safely.

• Aug 16, 2024 - A flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur had to make an emergency landing in Alice Springs due to engine trouble.

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