KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 ― Malaysian celebrity Shila Amzah is the ambassador for Monspace Sky Airlines that was launched last Friday, a spokesman for the singer said today.
The spokesman representing Shila's management company, Shilala (HK) Limited, confirmed the artiste was present as an ambassador of the purported new airline at its July 22 launch, with her attendance being part of a contract.
"Shila was appointed as the ambassador with an agreement in place between Shila’s Hong Kong based Global Management Company and a Malaysia-based PR Agency representing the airline," Darren Kong, who is in charge of Shila's International PR and Global Strategies, told Malay Mail Online in an email response today.
Kong said both Shila and Monspace Sky Airlines' Malaysian public relations agency had fulfilled their agreed roles for the July 22 event, confirming that Shila had been greeted then by Datuk Seri Jessy Lai and Tan Sri Musa Hassan.
"We attended the event as the ambassador with a professional appearance and attitude, on arrival of the event we were greeted by the persons named above whom we believe are the senior management and organiser of this event.
“We did not raise too many questions on the day as the event was adhered in accordance to the rundown given by the agency prior thus both parties have fulfilled the roles and responsibilities discussed," he said.
He also said Shila and her crew were on board the two July 22 "PR flights" from Subang to KLIA and subsequently to Langkawi with no fees charged to them, adding that the return trip was through alternative transportation as their event obligation concluded after the flight landed in Langkawi.
When asked about Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's assertion that he had never heard of Monspace Sky Airlines and local aviation authorities saying that the purported airline does not have the required licences for commercial flights, Kong said Shila's representatives are still seeking clarification.
"As the agreement was dealt at a management level between Shila’s company and the Malaysia based PR company representing the Airline, we are currently seeking clarification from the Agency for the claim above and shall receive a reply in due course," he said.
When asked further if Shila felt that her name had been wrongly used to endorse Monspace Sky Airlines, Kong reiterated that Shila as a professional artiste would perform her role according to the agreement in place.
"What the news described is something her company is seeking clarification of, it is premature to release a statement on our position before we receive a formal response from the Agency and its client," he said.
In one of the photographs of the July 22 event seen online, Shila and Hong Kong celebrity Maria Cordero were shown pointing at a banner publicising the launch of one “Monspace Sky Airline” that was purportedly “operated by Suasa Air Sdn Bhd”. They were also shown standing in front of an aircraft with pink livery bearing the words "Monspace", "Suasa Airlines" and "www.monskyways.com".
No company by the name of Monspace Sky Airlines or Suasa Air Sdn Bhd was found in Malay Mail Online's previous search of the Companies Commission of Malaysia's (CCM) registry, but Kong noted that Shila's management company is not limited to dealing with Malaysian companies.
"As we are dealing with the Malaysia PR agency, we have acknowledged the agency is a legitimate company, as for the airline, or in fact for any brand, it is not the company requirement to represent or endorse only Malaysian business entities. The company is based in Hong Kong and with Shila’s career spanning across South East Asia, Greater China and beyond we have been working with brands from around the globe for various commercial arrangements," he said.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) said Monday it is lodging a police report against Monspace Sky Airlines for allegedly “misleading the public” by advertising itself as an airline despite not having the necessary permit or licence to operate commercial flights.
When asked for updates this Wednesday, Mavcom said it is currently unable to divulge any information as it is still investigating both Suasa Airlines Sdn Bhd and Monspace Sky Airlines.
Suasa Airlines Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Captain Sheikh Salleh Abod this week claimed he had never heard of Monspace Sky Airlines, insisting that the "Monspace" marking on his company's aircraft that were used for the July 22 flights is merely an "advertisement" for its future charter client Mon Space (M) Sdn Bhd.
