Mp Wants Govt To Probe Myairline Shareholders Licence Process

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PARLIAMENT | The government has been urged to launch criminal investigations against MYAirline shareholders and government officials who had approved the airline company's air service licence.
Lim Lip Eng (Harapan-Kepong) told the Special Chamber session at the Dewan Rakyat today that those responsible for the company's operations should also be barred from leaving the country and their assets frozen pending government investigations.
"I want to call for the Transport Ministry and other relevant agencies like the police, MACC, and the Finance Ministry to take actions in this case, including cancelling or withdrawing MYAirline licences with immediate effect.
"The authorities must investigate the process where MYAirline got approval (to operate as an airline) - see whether there was any element of corruption or any violation of rules by the (government) officials and ministers at the material time.
"All members of the company's board of directors and its shareholders must be investigated under the Financial Services Act 2013, MACC Act, anti-money laundering laws, fraud and criminal breach of trust, among others,” he said.
Lim (above) added that it’s not enough to only refund customers and pay airline workers their salary but the sudden suspension of operations must be investigated from a criminal perspective.
He made the suggestion as an addition to a motion by Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut) who demanded the Transport Ministry explain to the Dewan Rakyat about MYAirline's abrupt suspension of operations last week.
In response to this, Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah said Lim's suggestions are not within the ministry's jurisdiction but other relevant agencies might look into the matter.
To another query by Lim - who wanted the government to promise that it would not use public funds to bail out the airline company - Hasbi said "I think the bailout days are over".
Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi HabibollahLicensing process
The deputy minister acknowledged that what happened with MYAirline served as a lesson for the Transport Ministry and its agencies when scrutinising applications for an air service licence.
This comes after R Yuneswaran (Harapan-Segamat) raised the issue about individuals behind companies that own MyAirline.
According to Yuneswaran, before the government approves any company to operate an airline, they should screen individuals behind it to make sure they have no record of previous criminal cases, including those related to money laundering or financial crime.
"To prevent a repeat of a similar incident, the government has to look into the individuals who are involved," he said.
Hasbi responded by saying that the incident would be a point of reference in authority investigations into the case and for their future licensing process.
"Like the saying goes, lessons are always learnt. For sure this incident makes us more mature in looking into matters closely.
"From this incident, this would definitely be a criterion in future licence applications. It will be one of our standard operating procedures, and perhaps we will need to make sure that when we are looking into issuing a licence, we have to rope in other agencies too in conducting the screening," Hasbi added.
To a question from Khairil on what had caused MYAirline to suspend its operation abruptly, Hasbi told the Dewan Rakyat that they are still investigating the matter.
While there are hearsays on what might have happened, the deputy minister said they cannot act on rumours.
Hasbi pointed out that the investigation has commenced against the airline where it had been given 14 days to submit a representation to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAM), after which it will be able to establish all the facts.
On Oct 12, MYAirline announced the suspension of its operations, citing "significant financial pressures", barely a year after its maiden flight.
The abrupt announcement shocked Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who called the company "irresponsible". - Mkini

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