POLITICAL and civil society leaders joined the chorus of calls to Putrajaya to help retrenched Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd employees and the battered aviation industry.

Former prime minister Najib Razak took to Facebook to express his sympathy to the affected staff.

He urged the government to expedite the disbursement of the Employment Insurance Scheme allowance, which he introduced in 2017.

“Extend your hand to help them find new employment,” he said.

Najib was commenting on a report by The Malaysian Insight on the retrenchment package offered to some 2,000 Malindo employees whose stint with the company ended yesterday.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman tweeted that he wanted the government to look into the massive downsizing in the aviation industry in the upcoming Budget 2021.

“In the upcoming Budget 2021, the government should seriously look into the massive layoff that happened in the aviation industry,” he said.

Malindo downsized from 10,000 staff to only 1,000 in recent months, affecting 9,000 employees.

“That’s 9,000 family!” the Muda founder and former youth and sports minister said.

Meanwhile, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa hoped he could find an opportunity to help.

“Our hearts are heavy to hear such news. The Covid-19 attack has left a severe impact on the world economy.

“Let’s come together to help the economy recover and may all who have been affected return to work…hope I have the opportunity to help.”

Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet, on the other hand, advised the affected staff to liaise with their unions if they are unsure of the retrenchment package.

“Heart-breaking to read farewell messages of Malindo staff. If unsure abt accepting d severance package, speak to yur unions.

If accepted, hopefully the Gov can assist in reskilling or alternative jobs. Regardless, thnk u for yur service,” Lim tweeted.

The Malaysian Insight reported yesterday that a three-month salary package is among the severance package for some 2,000 Malindo employees whose stints ended yesterday in a retrenchment exercise as Covid-19 takes a major hit on revenue.

The company’s retrenchment policy and guidelines sighted by The Malaysian Insight revealed that the retrenchment package will be paid out in instalments.

Malindo became the most trending topic on Twitter yesterday as staff took to social media to “sign off” from the company while words of support poured in from social media users.

Chief executive officer Capt Mushafiz Mustafa Bakri said in an internal memo sighted by The Malaysian Insight that the airline is only making 10% of its pre-pandemic monthly revenue while its fleet has been halved. – November 1, 2020.