KUALA TERENGGANU May 3: The cooperation between Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and low-cost carrier AirAsia should be continued for the benefit of both companies, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
He said that through the cooperation, MAS would be able to learn from AirAsia and vice versa.
"I see people opposing, not the cooperation forged by both, but the manner in which the share swap deal of the airline companies was done. This is what many people protested against.
"So, now, with the share swap having been cancelled, the cooperation should continue as there is much that MAS can learn from AirAsia.
"(AirAsia) Fares are very cheap, sometimes free, but it has been able to provide the service for the past 10 years. Logically, the company should be bankrupt, while MAS, which has received government aid of up to RM3 billion, is still losing money every year," he added.
He was speaking at a media conference after his lecture on 'The Challenges Faced by Muslims Now: Perception and Reality', organised by the Terengganu state government with the cooperation of the Terengganu Strategic Study and Integrity Institute here.
Khazanah Nasional Bhd yesterday announced the cancellation of the share swap deal between MAS and AirAsia after it failed to get the support of stakeholders to continue with the initiative. – Bernama
He said that through the cooperation, MAS would be able to learn from AirAsia and vice versa.
"I see people opposing, not the cooperation forged by both, but the manner in which the share swap deal of the airline companies was done. This is what many people protested against.
"So, now, with the share swap having been cancelled, the cooperation should continue as there is much that MAS can learn from AirAsia.
"(AirAsia) Fares are very cheap, sometimes free, but it has been able to provide the service for the past 10 years. Logically, the company should be bankrupt, while MAS, which has received government aid of up to RM3 billion, is still losing money every year," he added.
He was speaking at a media conference after his lecture on 'The Challenges Faced by Muslims Now: Perception and Reality', organised by the Terengganu state government with the cooperation of the Terengganu Strategic Study and Integrity Institute here.
Khazanah Nasional Bhd yesterday announced the cancellation of the share swap deal between MAS and AirAsia after it failed to get the support of stakeholders to continue with the initiative. – Bernama
