PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has called for greater transparency from SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) over its recruitment of aircraft engineers from Malaysia Airlines.
The Capital A chief executive officer questioned where 90% of SIAEC’s employees come from since less than 10% of its new hires in the country came from Malaysia Airlines’ engineering arm.
"What are their salaries? Are they all school leavers," he asked in a LinkedIn post on Friday (Sept 13).
Fernandes said he has supported Singaporean engineers coming to Malaysia and claims that Singapore is not reciprocating.
"We have been trying to get AirAsia Singapore approved, although we are in five other Asean countries. I even tried to buy a low-cost carrier there but was rejected.
"Singapore needs to stop its protectionist policies and open up the markets like Malaysia and other Asean countries.
“Singapore needs to stop protecting (their own businesses with policies) and have real competition (in the open market) like Malaysia and other Asean countries,” said Fernandes.
In December 2023, SIAEC, which is the maintenance, repair and overhaul MRO arm for Singapore Airlines, signed a 15-year lease with a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd for the use of two hangars at Subang Airport, with the option to extend the lease for another 15 years.
In June, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) found that 63 engineers and technicians had left MAB Engineering Services (MABES), Malaysia Airlines' MRO arm, leaving it with a staff shortage.
This phenomenon has led to claims that SIAEC had engaged in staff pinching, which in turn had been partly blamed for MAS’ recent spate of flight disruptions.
