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AirAsia gets embattled into political game in Malaysia

A call to boycott products and services from Malaysia’s Chinese companies launched by ultra rightwing Malay citizens in Malaysia has been criticized by AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman Rani in a twit. One of Malaysia’s most successful export brand has suddenly been dragged into political polemics…

KUALA LUMPUR- The results of the last Malaysian elections saw the return of the former coalition to power, albeit by a thin majority. The opposition has been prompt to denounce a distorted electoral system which resulted to the outgoing government to win again 60% of all parliamentary seats with less than 50% of the popular vote.

Tensions within Malaysia are rising as the country’s population gets more divided than ever. And the government just added fuel to the fire: two weeks ago, Malaysia’s new Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged in a statement in a Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia those who are not happy with the current electoral system to “migrate elsewhere”. The same newspaper –owned by the government party UMNO and reflecting increasingly hardliners within the Malay electorate- called for a boycott of Chinese companies to punish Malaysia’s Chinese community who supported opposition parties.

It could have been only political rhetoric if it did not suddenly rain down over one of Malaysia’s most favourite brands, the low cost carrier AirAsia. In a private tweet, Azran Osman Rani, AirAsia X CEO expressed his disagreement over the boycott, judging the act as a racist one. It immediately prompted a series of call to boycott as well AirAsia X and the main company AirAsia.

According to various Malaysian news sources, Utusan Malaysia asked on May 19 for a boycott of the airline and was joined shortly after by a civil servants union and two other groups. In an editorial, one of Utusan Malaysia’s editor went as far as asking the carrier to address the way air stewardesses look by lengthening their skirt and covering their chest instead of criticizing the newspaper.

The Malay newspaper cited also the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) urging all civil workers to avoid the budget carrier and to fly instead national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and its sister company, Firefly, for the upcoming two-week school holidays.

“The power of 1.4 million civil servants can give an impact on AirAsia, so I ask all civil servants to prove this especially in the school holidays,” Cuepacs President Omar Osman was quoted saying, claiming he had received numerous complaints about AirAsia’s service. The Executive Officers Union (KEPAK) and the Malaysian Consumers Protection and Welfare Board (LPKPM) called also for a boycott of the carrier.

It must now be seen if the boycott call had any effect on AirAsia bookings. If there is any, it should however remain limited in numbers and in time. The carrier is serving one of Malaysia’s most extensive networks with many destinations being only served by the budget carrier and its affiliates.

For the time being, AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman Rani does not want to further comment on what he previously said. He told some newspaper that his remarks were blown out of proportion. The reaction of some Malaysians as well…

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Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.

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