KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 22): Malaysia Airlines Bhd's outgoing chief executive officer (CEO) Peter Bellew has rebutted the comment made by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that his resignation is due to interference from current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. 

He reiterated at a press briefing today that there was no interference from the government and the sole shareholder, Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Dr Mahathir has alleged that Najib had interfered with the running of Malaysia Airlines by bypassing the board of director and management. He also commented that Malaysia Airlines does not need the aircraft that it intends to purchase from Boeing recently. 

In response to Mahathir's comment, Bellew said the former prime minister is "completely wrong". "I have not had any interference from anyone on anything. No interference. I just want to balik kampung (reason for his resignation) ... back to the people I love," he said. 

The outgoing CEO, who tendered his resignation on Oct 8 after about 14 months in office, said he had to hold the press conference today because in the last 48 hours, there had been rumours and speculations that his resignation was caused by Najib's interference, including the purchase of aircraft from Boeing. 

"There are reports that I am leaving because of aircraft orders. That is completely untrue. 100% incorrect. Not a shred of truth in that statement. There was no political interference in Malaysia Airlines' decision to buy Boeing or Airbus.

"Malaysia Airlines needs more wide-body planes and less narrow bodies. The chairman and I brought the MoU (memorandum of understanding) to the prime minister in Washington, and he witnessed the MoU signing. It all came from Malaysia Airlines," he commented.