KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will continue his attacks against Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) despite concrete rebuttals and explanations provided by outgoing CEO Peter Bellew, an Umno MP said today.
Tan Sri Shahrir Samad pointed out that Bellew had already stated yesterday that his resignation as MAB chief executive was not because of interference from the government or from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Bellew had also clarified that the purchase of new Boeing planes to replace existing planes coming off leases and to add new routes was a decision made by MAB a long time ago and was in-line with MAB’s recovery plans.
“When MAB decided to hire a foreigner as the MAB CEO, Tun Mahathir attacked the prime minister. Now, when a foreigner resigns as the CEO, Tun Mahathir also attacked the prime minister.
“It is clear to all that Tun Mahathir’s unceasing personal attacks on the prime minister using MAB and other issues is purely a matter of personal hatred and ego — neither based on facts or for the benefit of the nation,” the Johor Bahru MP said in a statement tonight.
Shahrir reiterated Bellew’s remarks that MAB’s problems began back in 1994 when Dr Mahathir privatised MAS in an alleged effort to cover-up part of the Bank Negara losses in the forex scandal.
“We should also point out that Tun Mahathir had also confessed in his own book that he was hurt and angered that he was not appointed as the airlines’ adviser after he had resigned.
“This is further proof that his motivation to attack MAB is very personal in nature,” Shahrir said.
He added that he knows the type of person Dr Mahathir is as he had worked “for and against” the former prime minister in the past.
Yesterday Bellew clarified that he had received no interference from anyone on anything during his time in MAB since he assumed the position on July 1 last year.
It was announced on Friday that MAB’s current chief operating officer Captain Izham Ismail will replace Bellew as chief executive officer.
