Tony Fernandes CEO Blog

Yah finally Tony...I meant Dato Sri, your own blog. It's about time! Look forward to reading your postings. And I definitely look forward to give my comments.

I applaud you on your spirit and vision. I too look forward to your posting and the direction it will take.

Welcome to blogosphere Tony.

Great to see you've found the time to blog despite your busy schedule. Looking forward to reading your posts Tony. Cheers. Have put a link of your blog on mine.

Congrats Dato

Welcome, welcome... Happy 51st Merdeka day to you too sir...

Wow! It's rare to have someone as high profile as you to actually author a blog personally. Moving with the times eh? I look forward to getting to know more about you. I haven't tried AirAsia but I will some day.

Welcome to the blogosphere:)

Pamela

Dato' Welcome to the blogsphere.. I am also a newbie I wonder you really 'blog', you know... CEO is a very busy man! I hope you did. Cheers!

The problem is that the Malay parties especially UMNO is harping on race. When the politicians do that they split the races. After 51 years of race politics, it's a wonder that the country is still intact.

Dato, welcome to the world of blogging .
Now everybody can fly.... cheers

Welcome to cyberworld Dato' T. Hope you will have time to share your experience and knowledge on how you rise in aerospace industry. Looking forward to learn from you.

Hi Dato, Nice to have you here. Hope to read constructive pieces of yours. Regards.

delighted to see this blog Tony ! Ops , i mean Dato Sri Anthony Fernandes :P ........... each time when i am travelling with ak ( normally kul-bki route) , deep in my tiny thought of wanting to see or meet you personally , but after many years of travelling , still do not have the honour to meet u personally . Now that u have a blog of ur own , it brings the distance closer to everyone with u . as a aviation lover , we have seen have ak developed from the blue and green livery to the red chilli livery ( thou not all red , foxtot whiskey damm nice :D ) that help to decorate KUL and all other airport in Malaysia , SEA and ..... and ... and .... ( across the globe we hope so :D ) watched the newest ak video " the story so far" at youtube , wat a nice video , the msg is clear , filled with humour and heart warming content , thou no comment about the mh part :P wish to read more installment from u sir , wish ak all the best , FLY THE WORLD with ur brand and make malaysia proud .

welcome to the blogosphere, tony.

congrats and looking foward to read more your post.....

Hie Dato, it's me. Finally you have a blog. I'm the kennysia's reader..

Hiya Dato, Welcome to the blogosphere. Hope you'd be a regular and that your postings are not ghosted. It'll be great to know that we can have direct access to you via this blogs to exchange ideas and maybe even comments about Airasia. Have not much complaints as I know its a no frills airline. Things happen and we just have to accept it as the concept is as such. However, I do hope you guys can reduce the fuel surcharges as the price of petrol has gone down. Your tickets may be affordable but the fuel surcharges make the trips a little bit sour. Apart from that, keep up the good work and syabas!

Your love of entreprenuership and media should be interesting to all.

Let us be Malaysian.
work together as one.
work to bringup Malaysia name together.
Air Asia name?...
I have no interest at all, except for the cheap ticket price I seldom manage to get.
and, don't be too greedy.

hi...Datuk..welcome abroad...2 cyberworld..

It is sad to leave your own country and work in other people country. Things get worst when you're trying to contribute but there are no place for you. I would say, sometime the growth is not progressive fast enough according to trend and the needs in the global market. There are several industries has proven fact.

Hi there. Well is wonderful to see someone who is high profile like you to be in the web and blog to share some thought of yours to the Malaysian. Actually is good and you show people to be humble no matter what position are you and what level of a person are you in and you still prove and sent a message to us showing us that you are still a normal person like us. Well, i most wanted to see is how you really work and do the things and way to be where you are now properly and no short cut. And since your are the CEO of Airasia, perhaps you can tell us or even shoot photo on where is the best place to travel that you have been and maybe is a good thing to share your adventure with us and the places that you went before to enjoy, relax and etc. Maybe give us the young malaysian some tips on how to invest and which is the best thing to invest even though work hard and effort is a must. I think everyone in Malaysia are proud of you and me too as shown as newspaper, magazine, internet, and etc that you are indeed a very successful person. So share something that is benefit to us and how we can make up a level of entreprenure and be someone or somebody one day. Looking forward to hear from you DATO.

Hi Dato', nice to know that you have joined the many in creating a blog. Hope your immense experience and creative juice will continue to flow and flood the aspiring malaysians with good entreprenurial values.

Hi, Nice to see a CEO blogger, welcome on board!

Dato Tony Fernandes,
First of all I should congrat you for the achievement you have been done so far. I admire how you implement and run the budget cost airasia even though our country fuel price, economic, politic is still unstable. Not many can get idea like promoting the local food to passenger.

Everyday I monitor airasia stock in bursa since I working in a broker firm. People still like the to buy the stock because of the management and how the ceo bring more strategy and idea to running the company in profitable way. For this I thanked you and hope you can bring more benefit for all and make our country proud with AirAsia. All the best to u. Hope someday I can meet u personally and take 1 pic.

Hi Dato, congrats!!! look forward to your sharing of thoughts on your way to greater success. Yes, indeed if there only another 50 or more companies like yours....boy it would be a remarkable country to live in. Wonder why the bus companies can't emulate your concept...then or 'now everyone can take a ride to work' ... Cheers!!!

Hi Tony, Finally you have a blog, hope you can share your experiences with us. I feel proud of you since you buy AirAsia for RM1.00 and turning AirAsia to very profitable company. We are one of the certificate holder for the A320 launching ceremony :P. Cheers!!!

I would pretty much like to have more of your comments.. on why our talents are leaving the country, what are the things that could have been done.. Could it be that we are, our mindset are, still being colonised by foreign countries (westerns) that the grass is always greener on the other side... or is it a fact that we just cant afford to take care of our talents and their supporting 'needs'. thanks.

Hi Tony, Msia may hv fallen behind Spore,Sth Korea, Taiwan...if not Thailand. Despite all the maladies afflicting our beloved country..... I think there is still hope every time I watch the EPL. Ref's Jersey hv a MALAYSIAN BRAND! Syabas! Ed

I think setting up a blog allows you to directly see people on a more personal scale. It's funny however than a very good friend of mine told me that you are fond of ping pong and that you used to play ping with him when you're younger at Damansara Heights. I scorned at him disbelieving but nevertheless that question always always ponder whether the world is that small. Anyway, you're a genius plus guts which most of us didn't. The "Snack Attack" for example is a great idea. I only hope you can bring Air Asia to profitable heights and in ride away the troubling times where fuel and load capacity aren't your best friend - but you can. You're good with micro economics and numbers. I'm not too sure about the AT&T tie up tough but the ad on the seats are some of the ideas I think was a superb as well. Kudos to you and may you continue to soar up above.

This is great now we can at least connect with you and am looking forward to this

I'm glad you decided to blog, as Air Asia does not provide much avenue for feedbacks from customer. The call centre is always putting me on hold as well. It has been real inconvenient for many of us since the night KL-PG flight was moved up to 4.30pm. We have to take an extra day off to make weekends in KL worthwhile, or for those connecting from Bintulu-KL-PG have to spend a night at the airport. Pls bring back the night flight if possible. thanks.

Dear Dato, I love the words "Imagine if there were 51 more such companies." May we move toward this vision, & I hope I'm one of the many which contribute to such vision. Best Regards, David Tan

Tony, Malaysia is only 45 years old on 16-September-2008 and NOT 51 years old. 31-August-1957 was the independence date of the Federation Of Malaya. The Federation Of Malaya is history since 16-September-1963. As a defacto Ambassador of Malaysia, it's very important for you to get this fact right. As a Sabahan and Malaysian, we feel very strongly about this matter. Malaysia will not fly in the right direction if you can't get this right. Do I deserve a free ticket from you? (just kidding!) May your business grows higher and faster...

Dear Dato Tony Fernandes, Without asking I have chosen you to be my idol my inspiration and is showing me results. As you wish I will strive to be one of the 51 companies in Malaysia and will bump into you the day I make it. Its A PROMISE BLESS ME !!!!

Dato', I'm a Malaysian working in Singapore. Perhaps I am egoistical to consider myself a "talent" :). It is now my second stint in Singapore. A few years ago, I had an opportunity to move back to Malaysia and I took it happily, as I had always wanted to be home. But the experience was disheartening and now, I am in Singapore again. Why? Career opportunity, recognition, competition, mentality and economic reasons to say a few. All these have one thing in common: faith in the future. Sadly, I lost the confidence of our political leaders' ability to take our country to the next level. With Air Asia, I had more opportunities to travel regionally and I feel, we are in serious danger of being overtaken economically. It's my opinion that Thailand has overtaken us. So, I felt it was best for me to move overseas again.

Sir, I've been fascinated with your career ever since I knew you were head honcho at Warner back in the eighties, if I'm not mistaken. I was/am a musician and hoped to land a contract with your company as soon as I was ready. Things didn't work out as I planned and I never got to go see you. Life went on until you created Air Asia, out of nothing! Wow! This really blew me off. I mean, some guys just got all the luck...and brains. Now I have a chance to tell you of my deep admiration of your meteoric rise to super stardom, as far as I see it. Well done, sir.

I suppose you can say the country has indeed come a long way in the last 51 years. Looking at our neighbours to the north, we should be thankful we are better off but we should also look at our cousins to the south and hope to perhaps narrow the gap in governance and public safety. Let's hope the current winds of change continue blowing the right way and in the "positive" spirit.

Dear Dato Tony Fernandes, I wish to express my sincere thanks to you and Air Asia. With you and Air Asia, I have finally able to make my dream a reality. I run an event management company with the word "Asia" in the company's name and I was actually inspired by the name Air Asia when I registered my company name some 4 years ago. During that time, I told myself, wherever Air Asia destination is, my dream is to open an office in that countries to take the advantage of the low fare. To me, not only "Everyone Can Fly" but "Every Businessman Can Expand Business Oversea" with Air Asia. And finally at the end of last year my dream became a reality and I have started my first company oversea in Thailand by the same name with offices in Bangkok and Phuket. BTW, I m actually writing this comment from my Bangkok office. My next destination will be Melbourne (within the next 2 months), Macau & Ho Chi Minh city (next year) and hopefully to reach all your other destination. Well, to me if Dato Tony can do it, I can do it too and so does all our fellow Malaysia businessman who have the same dream as I m. THANK YOU DATO TONY FERNANDES

hi~ nice to meet you Dato Sri Tony Fernandez... Kian here... glad to know your blog which i can give further comment and idea... and of course the most important, learn more from you... thank for sharing your words with everyone of us...

Hi Dato'. Looking for more forward-thinking, visionary company like AirAsia in Malaysia. Currently, I'm doing a mini research for my blog to uncover Malaysian brands leveraging on Social Media (eg. Facebook, Twitter, blog). AirAsia is probably one of the few Malaysian brands using social media. Hat off to you guys.
Happy blogging, Dato' and looking forward to read your thoughts, I mean, blogs ;) Cheers, Yung-Hui LIM

Wow, in the midst of all the political chaos, you brought up a topic that is truly the one biggest reasons for the decline of Malaysia in recent years (aside from the obvious ongoings). I had always imagined a single talented person making all the difference in the world for Malaysia: a talented economist guiding our policies; a genius programmer crafting the next Google; perhaps another Tony Fernandes? Thus it is sad that to appreciate Malaysia, you actually have to GET OUT of Malaysia. And, perhaps in time and with experience, those of us who have gone wayward will return, stronger and better equipped to build a Malaysia we all can be proud of.

Now Everyone Can Blog!! Syabas!

Congratulations on your new blog Sir! and yes I agreed that we should keep talented people to stay with Malaysia. Jeffrey, Wow very inspiring!

Go go go Tony! I already stop flying with corrupted MAS. I already booked my flight to Melbourne with Air Asia. =)

By calling Airasia call centre is very difficult to get a reply and it seem very busy and caller would be be diverted to keep hearing an advertising voice while waiting indefinitely until one feel tired and prefer to hang up. I think your call centre is probably not effective unless you Dato' can improve by employing more personel to handle this centre.

Hi Tony, I have one experience to share with regards to brain drain. It didn't help when you did very well in school and you wasn't offered a place in the government funded universities locally while at the same time universities like Oxford is welcoming you with open arms. Then came the scholarship you needed to finance your education, there was no chance to obtain it from within country while neighbors like Singapore is giving extra perks on top of scholarships. Love has to be mutual... When the brainy don't feel loved by the country, naturally the country doesn't deserve love from them. But Malaysia needs more people like you.

nice blog !! Dato Tony Fernandez...

Hi Sir, looking forward to your blog posts! perhaps you can blog it from your BlackBerry? :)

Selamat datang ke Blogosphere Dato. Best wishes from a Malaysian in the UAE since 1988.

Dato',

Welcome abroad to the blog and it will be always interesting to know your business idea while you are in the blog.

Congratulate again.

Regards,
Pastor Steve Peter H S Kok

Welcome aboard Tony. Looking fwd to read exciting ideas and opinions from one of the most successful CEO in malaysia..

Dear Dato Tony, Congratulations on all your achievements,including starting your own blog! I just want to emphasize what JeffreySoh mentioned in his comments, about how AirAsia extends Malaysian business offshore! Low cost travel (not the low fares) are critical for the frugal businessmen to go beyond the Malaysian shores. It's also important that we find brands like AirAsia supporting local Malaysian businesses, because without the opportunity to proof yourself, very few people can go further. I like your drive, your spirit, and the values you set forth in AirAsia. Now only if you could be running the Government! We surely need strong leaders today (with some business sense!). Cheers and Congrats. Chris Chan TMS PS. For every cent AirAsia pays us in services, I can guarantee you, we spent it back on AirAsia tickets!

Hi Mr Tony, I have few quick question for you:- 1) What do you prefer to be called? Dato Sri or Tony. 2) I always wanted to learn from someone who is successful like yourself on how you motivated yourself and learn the business techniques and what does a person need to do in order to have a successful business? May you be my mentor? *smile* 3) As per #2, will you be sharing your wisdom to the rest of us? Thanks Cheers

Hi Tony: Brain drain is not just faced by Msians. For many people from various countries who leave, they weigh the many push n pull factors, n make a decision in their best interest at a point of time. M'sia can learn a lot from S'pore: how they attact the tops brains of the world to S'pore. Irony is many Sporeans leave! Read Seah's story of Singaporeans migrating overseas in The Star today (06/09/08). The good thing is many M'sians (and others) go to SGP to fill the void! In a globalised & connected world (facilitated by cheap flights of Airasia & AA-X) it really doesn't matter much as people can travel across the globe frequently to work and contribute skills and values where needed. The tough question in M'sia is: do we value n treasure these brains? What are we doing to maximise the "pull" and minimise the "push" factors so they stay and contribute? Yours is a inspiring success story like no other. May there be more coming... vic

welcome , dato to the blogsphere...good to see a prominent malaysian like u to engage in blogs....

you the man mr. Tony, I'm proud to be a Malaysian, with people like you we can take our country to the next level.

In this day and age In Malaysia many people in positions of power seem to say anything they want and get away with it , "Hurting others" with words that demean them or make others that are born different from how you look , seem to be the new game that is being played in town. "Brain Drain" seems to be the result of such an an attitude , but there is still hope for Malaysia, we still have a place in this country, I and you can still contribute to build our nation to become a great country, despite all the opposition and hurdles , To quote diectly from your fist posting:- In this era of globalization, I hope that we can put our differences behind us and work as a united Malaysia to combat the many challenges thrown at us. Let's look confidently together towards the future and strengthen our bonds as Malaysians to take our nation to greater heights. Look at AirAsia, a company that pays homage to the diversity of Malaysia and which promotes talent regardless of race, creed, gender or social status and in the process built a truly global brand in 6 years.

Dear Dato' Sri Tony Fernandes, Happy Merdeka to you and congratulations on taking another strategic step in creating Tune Air's product awareness via this blog site! I do agree with your views on the loss of talented Malaysians, especially to other developing and developed nations. There are many factors affecting and encouraging these talented workforce to leave the country, such as higher salary (e.g. tax free income in the Middle East), attractive expatriate benefits (lucrative allowance, extra work holidays) and so forth. The recent oil price hike has also promoted many well educated Malaysians to opt for better job opportunities outside the country to cope with the rising cost of living in Malaysia, particularly in Kuala Lumpur. From time to time, I do hear foreigner businessmen praising our people for their talent, dedication and commitment in the job they performed. The only setbacks are the government policies which do not seem to be in favour with the investors and businessmen. I personally feel that the government should continue to put in more time and effort in studying and analyzing the current economic and political climate in this country in formulating better strategic and attractive plans to continue to attract new and current investors and businessmen to invest in Malaysia. Also, your organization has set a very good example for others to follow. Promoting talent regardless of race, creed, gender or social status is what private and governmental organizations in Malaysia should do. It helps a lot in creating and promoting a functional work culture that satisfied many employees. Sadly, many private and governmental organizations still failed to conduct such ethical practice internally. I have friends who place job satisfaction as their top priority followed by salary when it comes to seeking new jobs. I hope, with your experience and wisdom, readers, whether as an employer or an employee from other organizations, could benefit from your forthcoming ideas posted in this blog. Your loyal consumer...

Hellow Dato' Tony, How are you? Hope you are fine with your family. For so many years, I tried to meet many successful enterpreneurs like you. Because I really admire the way you brought up AirAsia and Most Important I want to be more successful than you. I know its not easy, But Deffinately I will be One Day. I hope you will bless me. Lets Bring Up The Nation Together, Sir... We love you, Dato....

Hi, Regarding the key issue of talented individuals leaving the country. I would like to share my opinion that not enough opportunities are made available for these talented individuals to express their talents. Even though our country has prosper (we must be thankful for that) that are still a lot more work to be done in improving the structural engine of our country. Much has be said about the globalisation (the benefits and the disadvantages) but less had been done on the corporate side in terms getting more opportunities for individuals. With rising cost, traditional oppportunities are fast diminising. More and more individuals are getting frustrated but do they have a choice? Corporations are unwilling to take risk (because of KPIs) but what can individuals like us do? This is a decision CEO needs to make wisely based on their own corporate background environment. How does the government support these efforts is another factor? Educational and skill training, needs to be aligned with corporate strategies (which i think needs more attention from the goverment). For individual like us? we had prepare ourselves by improving on our skillsets to face the challenges that are coming our way but how many new challenges are actually allow for us to face? Therefore, please please setup the 51 companies and give the talents a chance to come back to Malaysia. TQ ml

Hi Mr Fernandez, a really unique touch for the CEO of a airline to be sharing his thought and feelings with the public through a blog. I'm sure your employees would definately feel the additional human touch at their work environment after this blog. 1 quick question, I'm a Singaporean, currently doing my ATPL in Australia as a private cadet. Does Air Asia take in direct entry foreign pilots? What are the requirements for direct entry pilots? Thanks!

Hi Dato' saw u a few time in LCCT KL when abroad with airasia, happy to know that you have a blog,looking forward to read your blog. cheer..

gud job dato'.... cntinue ur gud work 4 out country.... hppy merdeka day...

I think the greatest entrepreneur after Malaysia independence is Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong..And Tony is the hugh potential to overtake that position..

Hi Dato',its a very good move to have your own blog where we can communicate easily.Its a good way for us as young and new entrepreneurs to learn from you directly.I like the way you do business, the way business should be where alot of creative and inovative way. We will surely learn from you.Hope to meet you always here. Take care always..........Cheeers.

congrats on having a new space to express your thoughts. Blogging is indeed very convenient as you can just write on your mobile and post it. Suits our fast moving pace. Well, I have a few things to say about the talents leaving the country. A lot of my peers has actually left for UK , Australia, HK & China to work. Needless to say tonnes of them gone to SG too. There is a reason apart from the higher salary and $$$. The professionals will always ask themself whether their contribution is worthwhile. Prospect, future for the next generation.

Wecome on board Tony to the world of bloggers !! Many don't understand the real meaning of Merdeka. We can say we are truly independant only when all of us in Malaysia stand under one umbrella and say " I am a Malaysian". Until then, I can only see the Pseudo-Merdeka Spirit.

Welcome Dato' Sri. Do take this opportunity to 'connect' with the webpopulace. Looking forward to your posts...

Dear Datuk,You run your Air Asia like a neurosciences intensive care unit...well run,efficient and very red,,,aggresive colour for the brain that means bussiness! I hope that Air Asia will beable to grow together with University Sains Malaysia the University and the medical school and hospital I work for and recently acheived APEX status.Like Air Asia in 5 years we need to acheive a certain status or flop!Maybe you can give some ideas how we can become like Oxford in 12 years.? Prof Dr Jafri

First of all Sir, thank you for creating an opportunity to communicate directly with you....as i believe would be many of your followers dream. I have always admired you and you have been my role model, next to DrM Even after 51 years of merdeka, I feel that our country are going backwards, thanks to the current leaders. Many Malaysian are now feeling they would better off working as an immigrant in a foreign land as they don't have much to prove here. I personnally feel that Malaysia is no longer the country that I was once proud of. I strongly believe that next generation would not benefit much from this country unless the way the country is leaded are changed.

I would like to ask you why Air Asia did not honour the former Transport Minister's promise to refund airport tax for trips not travelled. You only refund the airport tax for overseas flights but not domestic flights not taken.I would like to request that you refund airport tax on domestic flights not taken.

Will definitely look into it. Would be great if you can highlight this to Guest Support so that I can resolve this matter properly.

Kind regards,
Tony

Dear Dato', yes you're right in saying that we have to try and stop talented Malaysians from leaving. However, I find that other countries, (Singapore as an example) is willing to pay a salary that is 'commensurate' with experience and qualifications. Malaysian companies and and now even a lot of 'MNCs' feel that they can pay very much less and still expect the employee to work very long hours (mainly because one person is doing the job of a few positions)! So, the only option is to leave for a company and it's usually in another country that actually values one's experience and qualifications and pays accordingly. How does one have a work-life balance if we have to work long hours (missing out on family and social life). Yet, we do that because otherwise it's hard to meet our commitments. In my case, I may not be as 'talented' as a surgeon, etc. but I find that companies overseas are willing to pay me more. I have to stay because I have commitments here and can't leave. Companies should really start valuing their employees and not just see them as 'helpers' to increase revenue.....

Thanks! I'll try to answer all your questions in my next few posts. As mentioned in my earlier comment, I will start a special email address so that you can contact me directly for suggestions and complaints. Will let you know soon.

Meanwhile, for those who wish to highlight your problems with AirAsia, you can send your email to Guest Support. AirAsia has also launched a new corporate blog - AirAsia Blog titled "Just Plane Thoughts". You may find some of your answers there already!

Kind regards,
Tony

Hi Dato, It is great see you at the blog,
Thanks your kindly help for the poor.

Maran

glad that u have mentioned about special email adress sir , appreciate the effort , thanks alot

Hi Datuk Tony, Hope you will be posting your e-mail id soon. I have few suggestion that I want to pass to you. Till then have a nice day and have a nice day. Bye

Like what you said: " I hope that we can put our differences behind us and work as a united Malaysia to combat the many challenges thrown at us". I hope through the influence of your blog, our present govt could make major changes for a united Malaysia leaving behind race and religious politics.

Congratulations to Airasia success in Now Everyone Can Fly. I fly regularly on Airasia for work and holiday. Most of the time my one way taxi fares of RM140 from Malacca to LCCT cost more than my Airasia fares. Can LCCT through the influence of Airasia provide similar direct express shuttle bus services(similar to KL Sentral) from LCCT to Seramban and Malacca. Low cost airports in foreign countries like Australia provide very efficient and affordable airport shuttle mini buses and vans. LCCT should look into providing low cost transport to make Airasia's Now Everyone Can Fly more meaningful. Looking forward to hear some good news on the above.

Hi Tony, I am as new to the blogging world as you are. I started mine last week along the same lines of yours - blogging on my feelings on Merdeka. (wilfred-yeo.blogspot.com) I am a frequent traveller with your carrier to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. I have also read 'The Air Asia Story' and am baffled at your courage in securing a RM 1 company ladened with huge debts and turning it around to be the largest low cost carrier in the region. I like what I read about your gung ho-ness and zeal in business and I have applied some of your beliefs into my management styles :) I hope your blog will be used as an avenue for only your 'ramblings' and not some Air Asia customer querys' solution provider. All the best in this 'ramblings' and see you soon in one of your flights. :) BTW, I have linked your blog to mine.. We are now blogging pals :) haha..

I am so happy you join the blogging world. I really admire your ability to think of great idea and to make it work so well. Congratulations!

I wrote about my AirAsia flight on my blog, I hope you will have time to look at it. http://lovelymalaysiafood.blogspot.com/2008/07/why-you-pay-extra-for-oil-on-airasia.html

Thank you.

Hi, glad to see you, sir!!

I would appreciate the chance to communicate with sir....

Wish that AirAsia can obtain high profit this year.....

Hi Datuk Tony, nice to see your new blog. Looking forward to your upcoming blogging.

Welcome to blogdom Tony. Your fame precedes you. I hv been taking potshots at AA AA AA and MAS on a couple of occassions. Nothing personal but we must be allowed to ventilate our frustrations.

Just booked a ticket for my maid yesterday for return to Indon for Hari Raya and found it impossible to get through to customer service on the phone.But otherwise, AA is a boon to air travel. I 'm sure AA will get through this rocky period and 95% qtrly drop in profits. Hang in there. You have a lot of support from the little people like me.

Power to the People!

Hi Tony,
One of the item mentioned in your article "Merdeka to All" caught my attention. You pointed out the concern of our great talents leaving Malaysia.
A lot of discussion and articles have been written about this topic. I have recently made a comment on the same subject in one of the business magazine and I reproduced herewith for yours and your guest reading pleasure. Really, I do not believe our talents leaving the country to be a threat but strenght if our Government and companies really look into the matter.

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Subject: Letters to the Editor
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:38:23 +0000

Dear Sir,

I have read with great interest the article entitled “Brain Drain or Global Mobility” in your January 2008 edition. The article had covered almost all aspect on why professionals from Malaysia move overseas. Most of the points mentioned such as better salaries, enhance quality of life, better career development and experiencing new cultures are indeed valid and have a lot of truth in them.

Being an expatriate manager for a foreign MNCs and having spent more than 15 years abroad in South East Asia, Middle East and South America; I am excited that globalizations and trade liberalization have opened a great deal of opportunities for both the employees and employers. As more Malaysian companies response to these opportunities, they will need more managers who understand cross cultures business and management. Our managers must be trained and have the necessary skills to adapt and excel in a cross culture business environment. Failing to have suitable managers for the work can means success or failure of the overseas business units. This risk increases many folds when venturing abroad. This risk can be easily addressed by leveraging on the experience and skills of the successful Malaysian who are now running some very large business units abroad for foreign companies.

While younger professionals tend to move overseas for better life style and salary, I am convince that they would become an asset to our companies once they reach a certain level of maturity. Therefore, such brain drain cannot be at all undesirable like you rightly said.

For the more senior management professionals, one thing the subject article failed to address is on children education if they are to return. Most countries such as US, UK, Australia and some European countries and even Singapore have their own school in some of the most vibrant economies in the world. Therefore, it will be quite easy for expatriates from these countries to move around and eventually return to their own countries with all the necessary experience and skills to further bring their business to a higher level. Malaysia does not have its own school overseas. As a result, most of us will enroll our children in either American or British schools. One major consideration of a returning expatriate is children education; can they fit back into the Malaysian school system which uses Bahasa Malaysia? Therefore, it is necessary that this matter be addressed if we are to encourage our experience professionals to return and contribute to our business. The package of the returning expatriates must consider international school education in Malaysia. What I learnt is that most companies offer a local term to the returning expatriate because he / she is a Malaysian. A CEO friend (of a main board listed company) of mine once told me that if a Malaysian can work and excel overseas like any other foreign expatriate, why have different term between this Malaysian and foreign expatriate if they are to work in Malaysia.

I am convinced that there are Malaysian professionals who will return if given the right opportunity and terms of employment that will also take care of their children education.

As for me, my wife and I have decided that we should train our children to be the citizen of the world. They must be able to adapt and excel in any cultures and in any part of the world. The world is getting smaller each day.


Regards
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Liberalization has taken place over the last 5 to 10 years. First, the internet boom then followed by Satelite Network TV. AirAsia also part of the liberalization in aviation sector. The maiden flight from LCCT to Singapore has make me smile.

I remember Tony mentioned it would be end of Chapter 2 of Star Wars episodes. Either Empire Strikes Back or Attach of The Clones. I look forward more exciting sucess stories to come.

i will be the founder of another successful company in the future.. DARE TO DREAM... yea

last few weeks i wrote how much i,m admiring your achievement .admiring your vision and mission.i'm really proud to have a successful man who proud to be Malaysian. But today it goes the same way...the hero in the story almost forget where they come from.Never enough.Always wanted more. I believed in business it needs a little bit of everything..some says immoral.Perhaps you are ready to blend those needs into something else.maybe something which could jeorpadise the country economy. DONT LET GREEDS TAKING OVER YOU.

Tony...it is a timely moment for such a nice Merdeka blog. I have always said and believe that freedom is the strength of to the right thing. I think you have written with lotsa wisdon on freedom, with great strength and focusing on the right things. Great Message, Air Asia CEO.

Hi Dato Seri Fantastic work for AirAsia. Just few queries....... I'm residing abroad, Sydney and travel frequently to Malaysia but unfortunately, AirAsia doesnt fly to Sydney..I wonder why? There are lots of travellers from Sydney to Malaysia, but currently the best option via Low Cost carrier is only with Jet Star which will take 2 days some times....Looking forward to see AirAsia flys to Sydney soon...