PETALING JAYA: Before it became an aviation giant, AirAsia’s survival hinged on a chance encounter – an uninvited guest approaching a minister at a hotel party.
With just two planes at the time, Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said meeting the late Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik was a turning point.
“He didn’t know me. But when I told him our story, he listened and said, ‘Okay, I will help’,” Fernandes recounted to reporters.
Dr Ling arranged a meeting with then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, opening the door for AirAsia to continue operating.
“He gave AirAsia the chance to survive. We will never forget his contribution,” he said.
Fernandes described Dr Ling as someone who was approachable and willing to listen.
“He was always smiling, always humble, and had time for everyone. I was a nobody, but he gave me time and showed me patience.”
Dr Ling, he said, understood early on how AirAsia would fit into the wider aviation landscape.
“This was about creating a new market,” he said.
Despite his senior role, he said Dr Ling remained grounded.
“He made time (for me). I will never forget that,” Fernandes said.
