PUTRAJAYA: A special audit report on recent technical issues affecting Malaysia Airlines will be presented to the Cabinet on Wednesday (Aug 28), says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said the audit, conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) into Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), was carried out even before the recent spate of issues that affected the national carrier.
“I will report some of the findings to the Cabinet this Wednesday. Follow-up action will be taken by CAAM and we view what is happening seriously,” he told a press conference here on Monday (Aug 26).
Loke said he is also in touch with MAG group managing director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail on the matter.
"I have spoken with him and asked him to make the necessary follow-ups to ensure operations are smoother,” he said.
Loke also acknowledged concerns by the public towards the national carrier.
“I’m not downplaying them. CAAM has conducted immediate investigations even before this.
“All incidents involving flights, such as diversions, turbulence or returning to base, must be reported to CAAM,” he said.
Apart from the special audit, Loke said spot checks were also carried out by CAAM into MAG’s engineering department.
Loke also said technical issues faced by MAS were also experienced by other carriers globally.
“It’s not that MAS wants to divert their flights. Doing so brings a major loss to them.
“However, they take those steps for the safety of passengers,” he said.
This comes after recent incidents of MAS flights turning back and making emergency stops.
On Aug 22, a MAS flight heading to Medina had to return to KL International Airport (KLIA), marking the third such incident for the national carrier this week.
According to FlightRadar data, MH152, which departed KLIA at 2.23pm, turned back while flying over the Nicobar Islands in the Andaman Sea.
A day earlier, MAS flight MH386 was forced to turn back to KLIA due to a cabin pressure issue.
On Aug 20, flight MH128 en route to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne had to make an emergency stop at Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territories.
Separately, Loke said two companies have applied for vehicle inspection permits following the end of Puspakom’s concession on Aug 31.
He also said about 50 companies had attended briefings on this.
“The response has been very positive so far. The ministry will evaluate each application and announce the successful applicants soon,” he told the same press conference.
He added that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will continue monitoring companies offering vehicle inspection services to ensure they abide by the set guidelines and provide quality services.
“The government also welcomes qualified and competent companies to apply for providing this service,” he said.
Last year, Loke said the Cabinet had agreed that Puspakom will no longer being the sole provider of vehicle inspection services beginning Aug 31.
The move will end three decades of monopoly by Puspakom which was appointed by the government in 1994 to undertake all mandatory inspections of commercial and private vehicles.
