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How safe is it really to fly AirAsia?

The safe passage of all passengers for any commercial airline is of paramount importance as precious lives are at stake. There can never be any compromise. The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) is therefore duty bound to ensure that the stringent safety requirements are met at all times and no slip-up be tolerated.

It’s for this reason that in one of my parliamentary questions for the June sitting here, I asked the Minister of Transport to state the procedures and regularity of the safety audits carried out for low-cost carriers landing and taking off from our airports. The airlines include AirAsia, Jet Star and Tiger Air. The minister’s reply is posted here.

While the minister’s reply is reassuring to the general public, it seems a recent incident that purportedly happened in KLIA on 20 July 2010 with AirAsia Flight AK718 from Singapore seriously begs the question as to the diligency in which the DCA carries out its ‘safety audits’ where low-cost carriers are concerned. What is most discomforting is the fact that the same AirAsia aircraft that experienced a form of technical problem was allowed to take off so soon after the said incident. Please refer to the emails forwarded to me below for details.

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Teks ucapan semasa membahas Rang Undang-Undang untuk meminda Akta Antipemerdagangan Orang 2007 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007), 15hb Julai 2010

Anti-trafficking of Persons! Anti-trafficking of National Assets!

Tuan Yang Di-Pertua,

Saya bangun untuk membahas “Rang Undang-Undang untuk meminda Akta Antipemerdagangan Orang 2007 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007),” dengan mengalu-alukan cadangan pindaan.

Tetapi Kerajaan perlu merujuk kepada Laporan “UN High Commissioner for High Commissioner for Human Rights to Economic & Social Council” bertarikh 20 Mei 2002. Iaitu:

            The Primacy of Human Rights:

“1.   The human rights of trafficked persons shall be at the centre of all efforts to prevent and combat trafficking and to protect, assist and provide redress to victims. 

2.   States have a responsibility under international law to act with due diligence to prevent trafficking, to investigate and prosecute traffickers and to assist and protect trafficked persons.

3.   Anti-trafficking measures shall not adversely affect the human rights and dignity of persons, in particular the rights of those who have been trafficked, and of migrants, internally displaced persons, refugees and asylum-seekers.”

 

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AirAsia needs fund to reduce debts!

According to the Reuters report of 14 September 2009 …

“AirAsia is trying to raise fund of up to RM560 million by selling 400 million new shares via private placement to reduce its debts. Analysts in Malaysia said last month that AirAsia’s tight cash flow and high debt level was worrying given its commitment to fund aircraft deliveries. Last month it deferred the delivery of eight Airbus A320 aircrafts to 2014 from 2010, which analysts said signals potential over-capacity in the future.”

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Parliament Questions Time, 23 June 2009

Air Asia still owing (now more than RM65 million) Airport Tax! Also, Minister of Finance says MAHB is still negotiating with Air Asia to settle the outstanding debt!

Air Asia masih berhutang (sekarang lebih RM65 juta) cukai lapangan terbang! Lagi pun, Menteri Kewangan berkata MAHB kini masih sedang dalam rundingan dengan Air Asia untuk menyelesaikan isu tersebut!

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Your MP's Question of the Week #14

Terjemahan ada berikut.

In blogosphere which I have read here and there, the general perception has been that I have been “getting too personal” with AirAsia.

The complaints seem to range from why I continue to “harp” on the issues that I have raised in this blog and in parliament and why I also can’t seem to be able to let go when the people’s money have been sinisterly being abused for this private company.

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