KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 - The mass retrenchment of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) staff is expected to target union members who have dared to criticise the airline and its management, National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president claimed today.

Ismail Nasaruddin pointed out to local portal The Malaysian Insider that three Nufam exco members received termination notices today, which he said was a clear indication that the bankrupt airline was aiming to fire those who have been critical of it.

“Three of our exco members have got the sack, it looks like there are targeting us in the union,

“We expected this, we are now waiting to hear from our other members because some of them have yet to receive their letters,” he said.

Ismail also said that the terms and conditions imposed on some MAS employees who were offered to be reemployed were murky and confusing at best.

“MAS has caused confusion and doubt, the employees are clearly confused.

“Some of them got permanent contracts, some got six months only and some got permanent jobs. This has caused a lot of drama among employees,” he said.

News wire Reuters reported today that the carrier said its new legal entity is Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), replacing the previous Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS), with Mueller promising to unveil a full corporate rebranding in the future.

The carrier also confirmed that previously disclosed plans to cut 6,000 jobs, shrinking its workforce to 14,000, are now being implemented.

Mueller told The Star last Friday that overtime claims abuses, frivolous allowances and employee perks was why MAS was in financial hardship and having to fire thousands of its employees.

The national carrier was delisted in August after sovereign wealth fund Khazanah offered to buy out minority shareholders for a total of RM1.38 billion to restructure MAS, which suffered two air disasters this year.

The total takeover will cost Khazanah RM6 billion after the twin tragedies of MH370 and MH17 had threatened to overwhelm MAS’s finances.

The sovereign wealth fund later unveiled a 12-point turnaround plan for the national carrier, titled “Rebuilding A National Icon — The MAS Recovery Plan”, which includes transferring all MAS assets to the new entity.