Dr. Mohamadon Abdullah a.k.a. Dr Don, one of the pioneers of MAS wrote:
Malaysia
Airlines grew from a small Domestic & Regional Carrier to a major
player in Airline Premier League. Engineering developed from a Line
Maintenance Facility to become a major Aircraft Overhaul Facility in the
region (initially supported by expatriate staff but ultimately replaced
by Malaysians, through a structured Nationalization programme). Flight
Catering operated from a small flight kitchen and became a preferred
Catering Supplier. Flight Operations has been recognized as one the best
in the world and our Pilots are in great demand, due to a rigid
technical training and human factors programmes. There are many more
areas that we can really be proud of. Management Succession Plan was
emplaced. All these were destroyed in 1994 as a result of the so called “restructuring”and the “virtual airline” concept.
I recall 254 years of engineering “experience” were cast aside by just a
stroke of a pen. Malaysia Airlines Academy was planned to be a Centre
of excellence but now has
become “Manipal University”.
Today, MAS has engaged many foreign expertises either through direct recruit or through “Consulting” services (which result in $$$$$ outflow). Credit
and recognition must be given to the pioneer Leaders who took the
airline from operating BN2s, F27 and B737-200 to the modern fleet of
B747s, B737s, B777s, DC-10s and Airbus
series.
Now
a foreigner who has no inkling of why MAS was established and has
developed (and never gone through the pains of the early years) has been
appointed an Advisor. Imagine, a foreign Company is providing Catering
Services at Malaysia’s major Aviation Hub.What a JOKE after 55 Years of
Independence! Where is that Malaysian Pride? It is indeed a NATIONAL
TRAGEDY.
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Former MAS Managing Director Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman wrote;
I
have just read your article and would like to add my views. I am of the
view that the air transport industry in the country has over the years
been mired by wrong government decisions and periodical mismanagement by the operators.
The current state of affairs of MAS has been caused by:
(i) Some
15 years ago MAS management was messed up and the very fabric of its
operation was destroyed and until now it has not been fully revived
despite efforts being made to revive it.
(ii) The
situation has been compounded by the wrong decisions of the government
to allow Air Asia to operate on domestic and regional routes in the
beginning and later on long haul routes without any proper study on the
impact.
(iii) The
authorities failed to appreciate the role and responsibilities of a
National Carrier and wrongly placed MAS to compete against a private low
cost carrier. It should be noted that it was wrong to convert
Air-Asia’s license from international routes not operated by MAS into
domestic routes without any study on the impact.
(iv) Those concerned have failed to appreciate that Malaysia ’s
air transport premier travel market is very small and that the market
is very ‘price sensitive.
There
is no way that MAS can compete against Air Asia. Up to now I must say
that ‘Nasi hampir jadi bubur’. If they carry out their proposed scheme I
confirm that ‘ Nasi terus jadi bubur’. I am surprised that so many clever people cannot under stand simple arithmetic.
You may distribute my comments to the members of your network.
With kind regards,
Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman.
Ex-MD of MAS
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"No matter how noble
the objectives of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness,
cheapens human life and breeds ill will and suspicion – it is an evil
government".
- Eric Hoffer,
The Passionate State of Mind 1954
By: Prof. Dr. Bahazin - Ipoh.
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