This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 19, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: There has been no interference from Khazanah Nasional Bhd on how Malaysia Airlines Bhd should be run, said Peter Bellew, who has stepped down as the national air carrier’s chief executive officer (CEO) two days ago.

“There have been news reports about Khazanah. Let me be clear, Khazanah is a Malaysian investment company linked to the government. They have been incredibly supportive to me personally and corporately.

“I tried to be transparent on a daily basis, [and] included them in most significant meetings and dragged their staff to work for us! It has worked well. There has been no interference. Although possibly I drove Khazanah mad with my constant questions and wish for consensus,” said Bellew in a personal statement yesterday after the news broke on his decision to return to Ryanair Holdings plc.

“People always ask me how I cope with government interference. There has been none for me. Zero interference,” he said.

The Irishman had once acknowledged that being Malaysia Airlines’ chieftain was probably the toughest job one could have in aviation.

“I don’t think any other carrier will have ever come from where Malaysia Airlines has been. In three or four years, people will look back, and think ‘wow’. It’s nice to be part of that,” he told an Irish news portal in July last year.

However, he has not stayed that long. Bellew is the second foreign CEO who has resigned from the job in less than two years. The duo had been Malaysia Airlines CEO for not more than 18 months.

Interestingly, Bellew’s resignation came on the heels of Malaysia Airlines’ announcement that it had placed an order for eight 787-9 Dreamliners, worth US$2.2 billion (RM9.3 billion) at list prices. The news on buying the big aircraft from the US-based Boeing has drawn criticism, given that Malaysia Airlines faces difficulties filling up the six A380s it bought in 2003.

Bellew’s predecessor Christoph Mueller joined Malaysia Airlines in May 2015 and stepped down in September last year. Bellew, then the chief operating officer (COO), took over the helm in July last year.

When Mueller announced his resignation, speculation was rife that the foreign CEO wanted to leave because he was not given a free hand to revive the ailing national carrier. Likewise, market talk has it that interference was the reason for Bellew’s resignation.

However, Bellew in the statement cited patriotic duty for him to rejoin Ryanair.

“So why am I leaving? Negaraku. Love for country is pulling me back to Ireland. I got a call from Ryanair late evening two weeks ago to be COO. It is Ireland’s greatest company. They need my help and there is a big challenge.

“It is a form of national service. When I was asked on Sept 27, would I go to Ryanair, I said ‘no’. However, a week later, the call came and in life we can really never say never.”

In response to news reports that interference from Khazanah has put off Bellew, Khazanah highlights its rights as the sole shareholder to be informed of the national carrier’s operations and the progress of the restructuring.

“As provided for by the MAS Recovery Plan issued on Aug 29, 2014 and by the Malaysian Airline System Bhd (Administration) Act 2015 (MAS Act 2015), the restructuring of Malaysia Airlines follows a well laid-out governance and approval framework,” said Khazanah in the statement issued yesterday after midnight.

“The Malaysia Airlines board of directors and management submit its key plans to Khazanah as the sole shareholder and funder of the restructuring, and collectively, we have worked closely together to deliver the progress of the ongoing restructuring to date,” the government’s investment arm said.

On Tuesday, Malaysia Airlines was caught off guard by the announcement that Bellew would be returning to low-cost airline Ryanair as its COO.

“Malaysia Airlines takes note of the unexpected announcement by Ryanair Holdings plc to the London Stock Exchange regarding CEO Peter Bellew,” said the national carrier in a statement that day. It also noted that its board of directors will meet over the matter and that an announcement will be made “in due course”.