KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Khazanah Nasional Bhd recommended today that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) retain its name.
Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, managing director of Khazanah, said that the suggestion is based on a public sentiments survey.
“Our recommendation is for the name to stay,” Azman told a media briefing here today.
Khazanah owns the majority of Malaysia Airlines which is undergoing a RM6-billion restructuring to make it profitable.
Before today’s briefing, media reports said that MAS may have a new name in a bid to drastically change the image of the national carrier that has suffered two fatal plane crashes this year.
Azman said today that a MAS Act would be enacted to facilitate the restructuring of the beleaguered airline.
An aviation commission would also be established to regulate the aviation industry.
“There’s been rather haphazard competition happening,” said Azman.
According to the 12-point recovery plan, the aviation commission would match international best practices in other countries like the US, UK, Australia and Ireland, such as the arbitration of disputes between industry players, managing developmental air routes through a competitive bidding process, consumer protection measures and balancing the growth of business and tourism.
The plan also said that MAS would reconfigure its fleet, which may include using smaller aircraft, adding seats to aircraft to decrease unit costs, and retiring certain aircraft types.
