Lack of focus on local talent is cause of MAS’ technical incidents, says Dr Wee

KUALA LUMPUR: The lack of focus on attracting local talent to stay with homegrown airlines has caused the recent rise in technical incidents concerning Malaysia Airlines (MAS), says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said that transport minister Anthony Loke had failed to protect local airlines from the skilled labour brain drain that is faced by many local industries.

He attributed this to the allowing of Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC) to expand its regional base network, with a 15-year lease of hangars at Subang Airport in December last year, as a critical mistake.

“This was a good initiative that I also approved as it brought in investment but you must have also considered the possible implications this can have on our local airlines like MAS.

“Stiff foreign competition for skilled labour was brought to MAS’s homeground.

“So when a foreign company with a stronger currency like SIAEC operates in Malaysia, how is MAS supposed to find workers?

“When a more lucrative job offer is available, it is obvious our people will make the switch.

“What preparations did you take for your homegrown businesses (MAS)?,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday (Aug 28).

This comes after Loke revealed that 63 of the 411 skilled workers at the Malaysia Airlines engineering department had also left the company since January of this year, in a press conference earlier on Wednesday.

Loke said this sudden manpower shortage to perform aircraft maintenance was the cause of recent technical disruptions faced by MAS.

MAS had recently had a spate of technical incidents plaguing the national carrier, which led to incidents of MAS flights turning back and making emergency stops.