Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 1, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM) chairman Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman tendered his resignation yesterday, a day after the MH370 Safety Investigation Report highlighted shortcomings in air traffic control measures when the aircraft went missing.

Announcing Azharuddin’s resignation in a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he had instructed the ministry’s secretary-general to establish a special committee to study the report and make recommendations on further actions to be taken.

“Based on the report, we know there are air traffic controllers who did not follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs),” said Loke. “Some of them have retired, some are currently serving in CAAM. The special committee will look into it, and see what further actions are to be taken against them.”

Loke did not reveal the number of traffic controllers who had failed to adhere to the SOPs during the disappearance of the Boeing 777 aircraft in 2014.

The minister said the special committee is being formed, but declined to give details on its members.

Azharuddin, head of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) at the time of the incident, said in a statement that the report did not suggest the incident was caused by the department.

However, he acknowledged some very apparent findings

concerning the operations of the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre, where it was stated the air traffic controller did not comply with certain SOPs.

“Therefore, it is with regret and after much thought and contemplation that I have decided to resign as chairman of CAAM (which took over from DCA earlier this year), effective 14 days from the date of the resignation notice which I have served [yesterday],” he said.

“Over the past four years, I have tried my level best to assist in the search for MH370 and I am ever resolute in finding answers we all seek towards this unfortunate tragedy as we owe it to the families and loved ones. I am saddened to have to leave under these circumstances.

“Serving the industry for more than 40 years has been the greatest honour of my life and I apologise for not being able to fulfil the remainder of my tenure. Aviation has been a core part of my life since childhood and it will remain so for the rest of my life,” he added.

Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board.

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