THE RESCUE and restructuring plan for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will see changes in top management with Datuk Seri Idris Jala tipped, among others, to lead the overhaul of the national airline from a troubled carrier to a ‘premium airline’.
Jala, who heads the nation’s Economic Transformation Program, had previously led the national airline from 2005 to 2009. He steered the firm from heavy losses to record profits through hefty cost cutting, despite critics saying it was an unsustainable long-term model.
It is understood that Jala’s senatorship ends in September 2015. Last week, Jala was quoted as saying that MAS management should stick to the business transformation plan he had introduced as it contained step-by-step processes for the airline to stay afloat.
Other candidates being considered for the top job include Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim, the chief executive of Khazanah’s telecoms firm Axiata Group Bhd. – Agencies