THE Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will work with the Transport Ministry in its investigation into the licensing of suspended local carrier MYAirline Sdn Bhd, New Straits Times reports.

“Mavcom will fully cooperate with the investigations by the Ministry of Transport with regard to the granting of an air service license (ASL) to MYAirline,” it said.

Yesterday Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government was investigating how MYAirline had obtained its ASL in 2022.

He said investigators would check whether Mavcom had practised due diligence when granting MYAirline the licence.

“Whether or not they went through a proper process and procedure, that is something that needs further investigation.”

“This is definitely something that Mavcom has to answer,” he said on Monday.

An airline service must have an ASL from Mavcom and an air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to operate in Malaysia.

Mavcom’s job is to review the air service operator’s financial and commercial plans while CAAM must check if the operator for compliance with safety standards.

Police have also opened a probe into MYAirlines after it suddenly suspended operations on October 12, citing financial problems. 

It left thousands of flight passengers stranded. 

The budget carrier said it would compensate passengers after it had secured new investors. It said refunds could come up to RM22 million. 

Four people, including MYAirline co-founder Goh Hwan Hua and his family, were arrested to aid in the police investigations.

Goh, his 55-year-old wife and 26-year-old son have since been released. 

Police are in the midst of freezing Hoh’s 15 bank accounts. 

The nearly RM5 million in the accounts is believed to be linked to money laundering. – October 1, 2023.