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Hassan: Don't use public funds to bail out troubled airline with wealthy bosses
Published: Oct 7, 2026 2:37 PM
PARLIAMENT | A PKR MP today reminded the government not to use public funds to bail out a private airline reportedly having debt troubles.
Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) declined to name the airline, which he said is famous for the tagline “everyone can fly”.
“I urge the government not to use taxpayers’ money to bail out any private companies... For example, I was told there is a major company, an airline in our country with the tagline ‘everyone can fly’ - I do not wish to mention the company’s full name.
“So, if this company knocks on the Finance Ministry’s door to ask the government for help, I hope the government rejects it because the government has debts, even though this company is important.
“However, I have been informed that its bosses and shareholders possess billions in wealth, so let them save their own company instead; the government has other priorities,” he said while debating the Auditor-General’s Report in the Dewan Rakyat today.
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Hassan is believed to be referring to budget airline AirAsia, which is reportedly facing financial troubles.
'Heads must roll for LCS project'
Commenting on the delayed Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project, Hassan suggested that former defence ministers and former secretaries-general of the Defence Ministry be hauled to court.
He called it a major issue on par with scandals like 1MDB, Tabung Haji, and Felda.
Therefore, he urged the authorities, including the MACC, to investigate those involved dating back to 2013.
“From 2013 to 2026 - 13 years - the government has changed five times, and there have been five defence ministers over that 13-year period. I don’t know how many secretaries-general were involved in this procurement.
“It shouldn’t just be the generals being investigated and dragged to court and accused... So far, an army chief has been dragged to court.
“I see that the five defence ministers from past to present and the secretaries-general are not infallible. They are not angels; investigate them too,” he added.
77pct complete
Previously, Defence Minister Khaled Nordin announced that the LCS programme has achieved an overall progress rate of 77.46 percent across all five vessels as of April 2026, with the delivery timeline remaining unchanged and on schedule.
Khaled (below) shared the update during a press conference following a working visit aboard LCS1 at the Lumut Naval Shipyard, located at the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut, Perak, today.
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“I am pleased to report that, as of April, construction progress for each vessel has been encouraging. LCS1 has reached 84.30 percent completion, LCS2 stands at 79.48 percent, LCS3 at 71.22 percent, LCS4 at 60.52 percent, and LCS5 at 49.71 percent.
“The differing stages of completion reflect that all five ships are being constructed concurrently at various phases of build and systems integration, reflecting a more structured and disciplined approach to the programme.
“This progress also confirms that the delivery schedule remains intact, with LCS1 set for delivery this December, followed by LCS2 in August 2027, LCS3 in December 2027, LCS4 in August 2028, and LCS5 in April 2029,” he said.
READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | A littoral dive into the navy's RM9b LCS scandal
The RM9.2 billion LCS project began in earnest in 2013, and the first ship was initially scheduled for delivery in 2019. The ships were necessary to supplement the navy's ageing fleet.
By the time it drew the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s scrutiny in 2022, the government had paid out more than RM6.1 billion, but not a single ship was near completion despite years of delay.
The lengthy delay also meant that 15 percent of the equipment meant for the LCS was already obsolete, the PAC found.
The committee also found that the project’s cost had overrun by RM1.4 billion.
PARLIAMENT | A PKR MP today reminded the government not to use public funds to bail out a private airline reportedly having debt troubles.
Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) declined to name the airline, which he said is famous for the tagline “everyone can fly”.
“I urge the government not to use taxpayers’ money to bail out any private companies... For example, I was told there is a major company, an airline in our country with the tagline ‘everyone can fly’ - I do not wish to mention the company’s full name.
“So, if this company knocks on the Finance Ministry’s door to ask the government for help, I hope the government rejects it because the government has debts, even though this company is important.
“However, I have been informed that its bosses and shareholders possess billions in wealth, so let them save their own company instead; the government has other priorities,” he said while debating the Auditor-General’s Report in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Hassan is believed to be referring to budget airline AirAsia, which is reportedly facing financial troubles.
'Heads must roll for LCS project'
Commenting on the delayed Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project, Hassan suggested that former defence ministers and former secretaries-general of the Defence Ministry be hauled to court.
He called it a major issue on par with scandals like 1MDB, Tabung Haji, and Felda.
Therefore, he urged the authorities, including the MACC, to investigate those involved dating back to 2013.
“From 2013 to 2026 - 13 years - the government has changed five times, and there have been five defence ministers over that 13-year period. I don’t know how many secretaries-general were involved in this procurement.
“It shouldn’t just be the generals being investigated and dragged to court and accused... So far, an army chief has been dragged to court.
“I see that the five defence ministers from past to present and the secretaries-general are not infallible. They are not angels; investigate them too,” he added.
77pct complete
Previously, Defence Minister Khaled Nordin announced that the LCS programme has achieved an overall progress rate of 77.46 percent across all five vessels as of April 2026, with the delivery timeline remaining unchanged and on schedule.
Khaled (below) shared the update during a press conference following a working visit aboard LCS1 at the Lumut Naval Shipyard, located at the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut, Perak, today.
“I am pleased to report that, as of April, construction progress for each vessel has been encouraging. LCS1 has reached 84.30 percent completion, LCS2 stands at 79.48 percent, LCS3 at 71.22 percent, LCS4 at 60.52 percent, and LCS5 at 49.71 percent.
“The differing stages of completion reflect that all five ships are being constructed concurrently at various phases of build and systems integration, reflecting a more structured and disciplined approach to the programme.
“This progress also confirms that the delivery schedule remains intact, with LCS1 set for delivery this December, followed by LCS2 in August 2027, LCS3 in December 2027, LCS4 in August 2028, and LCS5 in April 2029,” he said.
READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | A littoral dive into the navy's RM9b LCS scandal
The RM9.2 billion LCS project began in earnest in 2013, and the first ship was initially scheduled for delivery in 2019. The ships were necessary to supplement the navy's ageing fleet.
By the time it drew the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s scrutiny in 2022, the government had paid out more than RM6.1 billion, but not a single ship was near completion despite years of delay.
The lengthy delay also meant that 15 percent of the equipment meant for the LCS was already obsolete, the PAC found.
The committee also found that the project’s cost had overrun by RM1.4 billion.
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