Malaysia has made no commitment to financial support for AirAsia
The Finance Ministry said requests for government support would be assessed against public interests, fiscal sustainability and safeguards for public funds.
Malaysia’s Finance Ministry has made no commitment to give AirAsia Bhd financial assistance through guarantees, financing or public fund injections, it said in a written parliamentary reply.
The reply, published on Parliament’s website, addressed a question from Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) about possible government support for the airline.
The ministry said any company’s request for assistance would be assessed against national and public interests, fiscal sustainability and safeguards for public money. Such assessments would follow applicable laws and procedures.
It declined to address media speculation or reported figures, saying this was to avoid effects on the market, employees, customers and other stakeholders. The government would keep monitoring developments, with public interests taking priority.
The ministry acknowledged concerns about AirAsia, including its latest quarterly losses. The airline had attributed those losses mainly to a surge in jet fuel prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
As part of its monitoring, the government said it regularly consults aviation businesses, technical specialists and others, as it does in other sectors affected by the crisis.
Bernama reported on September 19 that AirAsia said it had not discussed a bailout with the government and remained confident about its liquidity and business sustainability.
