It’s regrettable we don’t have jobs for all, says MAS CEO

SHAH ALAM: Ensuring the dignity of all staff is paramount for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chief executive officer Christoph Mueller.

Mueller said there were many people working behind the scenes to make sure there was fair and equal treatment in the selection process for all staff.

“I did not assume the role just to terminate jobs.

“On the personal side, my biggest worry from a human and a leadership point is that this procedure has the potential to create a two-class society in that we will have winners and losers.

“And that is very regrettable,” he said.

He said MAS had highly qualified people for certain functions but they did not have jobs for all of them.

As an interim solution, Mueller said MAS was actively looking to outplace some of their talent, including pilots to other airlines, with the option of taking them back one day.

“I have done similar things in my last job and that’s how we try to take care not to lose talent,” Mueller said.

But he said it was difficult trying to match supply and demand for every position they needed in the new company.

Mueller said MAS had opted to send letters (of termination and offers) to the home addresses of staff next Monday to respect their wishes.

He said it was important for staff who were not being absorbed into the new company to have an explanation and not be seen by neighbours as under-performers.

“That for me is the responsibility of management. To design a process so these people won’t lose their dignity,” he said.

Mueller said an airline breathed with the number of passengers it transported every day but MAS was transporting 20% fewer passengers compared to last year, in the same point in time.

Mueller said he expected to take at least three years to overhaul the airline.

“I am not sure what sport you support but to bring a team from the second to the first division is not done in one season.

“You have to create a certain dynamic,” he said.