Thank you blogger Another Brick In the Wall for reminding Malaysians of the danger of flying AirAisa, HERE. “Now Everyone Can Fly and Die!” a perfect slogan for AirAsia by Another Brick In The Wall.
I have written about the poor safety standard of AirAsia before, HERE. I have also tabled a question in Parliament whether AirAsia safety standard has been audited by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), HERE. Of course, AirAsia has not been audited by international aviation standard, IATA Operational Safety Audit (I.O.S.A). The DCA was in great pain trying to convince members of the public that AirAsia is safe. Unfortunate, another accident involving AirAsia has been reported by Another Brick In The Wall. Some how Air Asia was able to keep such bad news under wrapped again. This accident was not reported by the printed media, not even the news portals. It seems that only good writeup or news were published in the printed media and, of course, certain news portal will headlined it.
I am told that there were several accidents where AirAsia aircraft skidded off the runway. How many more of such accidents to happen before the news media and news portals will publish the news to keep the rakyat informed. Perhaps Malaysians will only have the privilege to read of adverse news when lives have been sacrificed due to poor safety standard.
It must be noted that adhering to stringent safety measures is a very costly affair. Safety measures in airlines are costly and it will not go along well with cost cutting in order to sell cheap fares and maximize profits . Datuk Tony Fernandes has been quoted to have said that “IF YOU KEEP YOUR FARES LOW, MALAYSIANS ARE PREPARED TO RISK THEIR LIVES.” I hope that this is not the official AirAsia’s policy! I also hope that AirAsia will not change its slogan to “NOW EVERYONE CAN FLY AND DIE!” as suggested by blogger Another Brick In The Wall.
We know that like any other companies, profits are at the forefront of Datuk Tony Fernandes’ mind but it must not be done at all costs. Remember the subsidiary of AirAsia fought and got the Rural Air Service (RAS) but only to throw it back to MAS within a very short time. But it kept the subsidy 0f about RM60 million subsidy given by the government and returned the 7 un-airworthy aircrafts, one of which was canabalised for spare parts. MAS, being the national carrier, was compelled to take back the RAS as its national service for the people in Sarawak and Sabah. MAS had to incur RM35 million to put the 7 aircrafts in airworthy conditions. I brought up the issues of the subsidy of Rural Air Services, Airport Tax debts worth RM120 million and etc to the attention of Parliament for the government to act against AirAsia, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE.
Datuk Tony Fernandes public relations must be so good that AirAsia has the immunity to owe Airport Tax, which was collected from passengers in advance, no MAHB since its inception and MAHB dared not take actions. The “4th Floor” was so powerful then. It took me almost 2 years to persuade the Government instruct MAHB to take actions against AirAsia to pay up the Airport Tax debts. Datuk Tony Fernandes public relations have been extremely good as AirAsia was able to negotiate with the MAHB on Airport Tax debts and finally paid it with a discount of some RM30 million. The RM30 million discount should be refunded to the passenger and not for the benefits of AirAsia. However, AirAsia received the discount. What a joke!
I believe that during the “the 4th Floor” reign of terror, DCA must be in the same state of fear like what MAHB had experienced. Now that the “4th Floor” was history, the DCA must show its worth by coming out to explain how AirAsia has been granted Certificate of Airworthiness year in year out since its inception and yet there were so many occasions where AirAsia aircrafts skidded off the runway. It is hoped that DCA puts passengers safety first before anything else.
