Following the opening of its facility at Subang Airport last year, Malaysia Airlines has lost just 12 engineers to SIA Engineering Company Limited ( SIAEC ).
The group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group ( MAG ), Mr. Izham Ismail, made the disclosure in an interview with local media on Friday ( Sep 13 ).
MAG is the family corporation of Malaysia Airlines.
“SIAEC causes professionals ‘ departure for Malaysia Airlines”? Yes, but not in large quantities, according to the loud conversations that were occurring in Malaysia’s Business Times, Mr. Izham was quoted as saying.
After Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke shared on August 28 that 63 qualified professionals from Malaysia Airlines ‘ executive arm, MAB Engineering Services, had left the company out of a full of 411 since January this year, online conversations about alleged hunting of team members by SIAEC began.
The figure was revealed following a report from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia ( CAAM ) on Malaysia Airlines and MAB Engineering Services between June 24 and June 28.
According to Mr. Loke, “CAAM discovered that these defections may be due to more interesting wage offers from various maintenance companies.”
SIAEC opened its preservation, restoration and reform facility in Subang in September 2023 through its subsidiary- Center Maintenance Malaysia.
According to SIAEC, its recruitment actions in the nation have been conducted through empty exercises, which ensure a fair and open approach that adheres to local regulations and industry standards.
In addition, Mr. Izham was cited on Friday as saying that his company is collaborating with a number of specialized institutions in Malaysia to annually train fresh aircraft engineers and technicians.
” We churn up in a year almost about 60 to 70 professionals, professionals about 100. That is our arranging for retention, pensions and therefore forth”, Mr Izham told Malaysia’s Business Times.
He added that the executive section of MAG is plagued by a 40-year culture that is the most difficult to change within the company.
” My number one priority that I’m doing is resetting ( the engineering division )”, Mr Izham said, adding that he wants to give it a fresh start by incentivising productivity.
Due to a lack of flights, labor, and parts, MAG just last month announced that it would cut 20 % of its potential for Malaysia Airlines, Light, and Amal until December.
Analysts who CNA spoke to at the time applauded the business’s decision to prioritize safety over profitability despite their caution that MAG’s move highlights deeply flawed issues that need to be fixed right away to regain customers ‘ confidence.  ,