YOURSAY 'What MAS needs, but will not get, is the best management team you can find, and be free from all political interference.'

MAS will not be privatised, Najib decides

your sayOnyourtoes: We are missing the point again in this discussion on MAS (Malaysia Airlines). The issue is not whether MAS should be privatised or otherwise. The issue is whether MAS is in good hands, with proper corporate governance instituted and enforced.

SIA (Singapore Airlines) and PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) are both government-owned, but they have been performing credibly all these years. MAS has gone through privatisation and reverse privatisation, but its performance has not changed much.

So long as the company is used as a conduit for cronies to make money, the performance will remain lackadaisical, even if capable people are put in charge.

Don't talk about the competition MAS has to face. SIA faces more intense competition than any other airline of the world.

Anonymous_4031: Of course, MAS, like other airlines, sometimes flies into turbulent conditions - some beyond its control (like the oil price hike) and some within its control.

Aside the former, which other airlines also have to face, choice of management is within its control. Why was the company able to turn around when Idris Jala took over?

We must know where he came from - Shell, which runs an excellent ship. With his skills, he managed to turn MAS around within a short span of time. Why then has it gone downhill and now that its share is priced at RM0.31?

We should also ask why AirAsia is priced at more than RM3 now, when it was hardly RM1 at one time when MAS was about RM4? Again, it is due to the genius of its boss, Tony Fernandes.

Now, there are two options for the government. Pemandu CEO Idris Jala has dropped a bombshell that the government may have to sell it off. Premier Najib Abdul Razak has a different view.

But maybe to sell in order to cut more losses is what a good pilot would do.

Appum: What MAS needs, but will not get, is the best management team you can find, and be free from all political interference.

Abasir: Finally, Najib has shown some spleen. The next step is to find the political will to castrate the Umno-ised unions and when that is done, get some real airline talent (from that other successful Malaysian airline perhaps) to run the company - not some ex-Bina Fikir consultants and Umno retirees, etc.

SpongeBob: Najib, now you are the premier of Malaysia. Stand by it. Make it a profit-making airline by the next general election. I will be very glad to see the national airline healthy again without privatisation.

Kamaapo: Some think MAS missed an opportunity when its short-lived affiliation with AirAsia was ended - so as to prolong the past practices of pilferage, plunder and pillage.

Anticonmen: Another 'piratise' exercise is due. MAS is always ripped off at three levels - shares level, operations level and bailout level.

It was already 'piratised' long ago with the endless flow of taxpayers' money, pumped in, only to be drained out in the billions, year in and year out.

The government bailout will be called a ‘turnaround' but using taxpayers money. Privatising will also involve taxpayers' money. No difference.

AngryBird: Sell it to tycoon Tajudin Ramli again at a low price and after he has bled it further, buy it back from him at a much higher price. Malaysia boleh.

Hill: Another story from our premier. What does he mean by "all other airlines in the world are also facing competition?"

Wake up. The good ones survive and the inefficient ones close shop. Everyone knows which category MAS comes in.

Mr KJ John: I hear that a strategic plan put forward and agreed to by Idris Jala was not followed through. I hope this is not true.

Penang Mari-loh: If MAS is to be sold, it will probably go to a crony. If we keep it, the bailouts will continue as usual, due to incompetent management and external politicking. Either way, the rakyat is screwed.

Lionking: In MAS, we have a good product but due to sheer mismanagement the company has been bleeding red.

Compared with Singapore, how on earth SIA can do so well with a small population. It is unfortunate for MAS, once an icon, being reduced to just another organisation.

It is a national shame that Malaysians does not know how to manage this golden goose. I always thought that the seeds of decay and destruction were planted by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad when MAS was handed over to Tajudin Ramli.

Can you imagine if we have a successful airline, there are lots of opportunities for Malaysians to be employed by it and to improve their skills? Sadly all this has been robbed by politicians who have only self-interest at heart.

There is no way the government is going to improve it so privatisation is the only choice. But that too only if it is given to the right person and politics must be kept out of the business.

Anonymous #45344303: Indeed, for over 30 years, MAS had been steered towards becoming a strong national carrier. It is so now.

It has got strong fundamentals, especially in terms of technical manpower in engineering and flight crew. Except for three past accidents namely in Tanjung Kupang, Subang and Tawau, MAS has an excellent safety record.

YouAreNotAlone: Yes, good. So MAS can continue to receive bailouts from the government, sponsored by the rakyat. Good that the rakyat is so willing to continue sacrificing themselves for their country, although in return, they don't even get a word of thanks.

Anonymous #45344303: Najib, you are right. You have our support. Do not pawn our national asset. It's valuable to the nation. MAS is a good company.

It can be turned around. What it needs is just good and sound management. It was profitable before and should be in the future.

Those asking for it to be privatised have got their own agenda. They want to make money like someone did before. So PM, we support you.

Amalgam: Round 1 to Najib for standing up to Mahathir. Be a man and say no to Mahathir. MAS can be profitable - just rule out closed tenders to cronies.

We are watching you, premier of Malaysia. We may not have voted for you, so prove to us that we should have.

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