No Meetings Held, No Agreements Reached With AirAsia – Loke

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Transport (MOT) did not hold any meetings with AirAsia in the past two to three weeks, nor was any agreement reached with the low-cost airline, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said the airline held regular meetings with the government, but the latest discussions involving AirAsia were likely held with the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

"Over the past two or three weeks, there have indeed been no meetings with AirAsia and no agreements.

"Maybe they (AirAsia) have had discussions with the MoF. What I mean is that these airlines do have regular meetings with the government," he said at a press conference here today.

Loke said this when asked about AirAsia's statement that the company had held meetings with the government, including the MoF and MOT, and whether any agreements were reached to assist the airline.

According to a Reuters report, AirAsia co-founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes met with the MoF two weeks ago to discuss the possibility of government support for Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost airline.

The report said the discussion reflected the government's concern over the financial position of the country's largest domestic airline following a sharp rise in aircraft fuel prices.

-- BERNAMA