SENAI: As the letters went out to the many Malaysia Airlines employees yesterday, some drew a sigh of relief. Others pondered their new future elsewhere.
About 20,000 MAS employees are awaiting with bated breath for the letter which will decide the fate of their employment.
Of the number, 6,000 employees have had their services terminated, while 14,000 have been offered jobs in Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB).
At the Penang International Airport (PIA), some employees, including several who have been with Malaysia Airlines for many years, were seen huddled together, bracing themselves for an uncertain future.
A 55-year-old employee, who asked for anonymity, said he had been preparing himself for bad news, and he was plagued with sleepless nights and worries about his uncertain future.
“I fear that at this age, I will not get another job soon enough, and I have bills to pay.
“I have been in customer service for the last 35 years. My fear is that there may not be job opportunities for someone my age,” he said yesterday.
Sharing his concern was M. Muniandy, 53, who was emotional as he spoke about the airline he had served for 20 years.
“I have nothing planned yet. I have two young children to fend for, so I am hoping that I am not among those laid off,” said the baggage service unit personnel.
At Senai Airport in Johor, many employees said they had yet to receive their letters.
“I have heard that the letters are on their way, and I accept the company’s decision, whatever it may be.
“I have been happy serving the airline for many years, and I brought up my children, who are now all grown up, with the salary from this company.
“If I am to be retrenched now, I will be sad, but not bitter or angry,” said a long-time employee.
A senior cabin crew from Shah Alam, who is in his 40s, said he was resigned to the fact that his flying days were over.
The man, known only as Tang, who received his termination letter through registered mail, said his service would end on Aug 31.
“It will be a sad day for me, personally. But, I do want to see Malaysia Airlines soaring to greater heights.
“Just as the carrier is trying to get out of a crisis, I will do the same with my life,” said Tang, who had secured himself a job in the corporate world.
Another cabin crew member, who had served with the carrier for about eight years, described her retrenchment as something fated.
“I take the news as it being my time to give up flying.
“I don’t have any plans for now but, up to my last day (at this company), I will continue working with my head held high and retain the good name of this airline,” she said.
A junior cabin crew member, who identified himself as Ed, said he was relieved to be offered to join the new setup.
“I was retained despite having newly joined the airline. I guess it is because my pay is a lot lower than my seniors.
“I do feel sorry for those axed from the cabin crew family,” Ed, who is in his early 30s, said, adding that he had high hopes that MAB, under the helm of chief executive officer Christoph Mueller, would revive the airline.
Meanwhile, all Malaysia Airlines employees based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, will only know their fate today, as yesterday was a public holiday.
A senior officer there said his colleagues would start coming to the administrative building from 9am to collect their letters.
“Up this minute, none of us know who will stay and who will go. We are all hoping for the best.”
Mohammad, 39, who has been with the carrier for 20 years, said that like those who had joined the carrier with a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia certificate, he was concerned that, if retrenched, he would be forced to start from scratch or to accept a job offer with a much lower basic pay and poor fringe benefits.
Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s Corporate Development Centre (CDC) chief executive officer Shahryn Azmi had revealed there were up to 12,000 possible job opportunities available for exiting staff.
It has also been reported that many companies had promised to give preference to former Malaysia Airlines staff over other applicants.
It was also reported that the Malaysia Airlines System Employees Union (MASEU) planned to set up a cooperative to generate income and create jobs for laid off employees.
The union said it had received various job offers from government departments and agencies, as well as from the private sector, for exiting employees.