Tony Fernandes CEO Blog

Are you ready for this?

Manchester United have just approached me on whether AirAsia would be interested in becoming their shirt sponsor. Yes, you read that right. The world's most famous football club wants to proudly wear shirts bearing the name and logo of a Malaysian-born global brand. Doing this would be a first for a Malaysian company and would truly solidify us as a global brand. This pure acknowledgement of us, AirAsia as a global brand to be reckoned with is simply a moment where you just step back and say, “Wow! We’re actually there right now!”.

From the business front, its simply astonishing as it clearly shows how we have progressed as a brand and that this little Malaysian company has gone so far in a mere 7 years to raised our brand to such high levels.

Heres the million dollar question, or rather the multi-million dollar question: Do I commit to the shirt sponsorship of Manchester United?

What do you think? So, should AirAsia do it? Have your say on my blog, and you may, just may soon be seeing this:

Make some noise in here people.

I couldn't not write about Barack Obama. He epitomizes so much of what I believe in.

Young, not tainted and full of ideas. But what excites me most about him, he's multicultural and is willing to talk to anybody and to listen and solve.

Ever since I read about Alexander the Great, I have been drawn to one world one race. As he conquered almost half the world, Alexander saw how race and religion polarized people and hence, in his short life, he encouraged mixed marriages to try and create one race in his kingdom.

Barack Obama has Kenyan parentage; an American mother, he had an Indonesian stepfather, he lived in Indonesia and has Malaysian relatives. That's what I love.

But apart from economics etc, he is willing to talk and communicate and understand other views. The world needs him. The only way to solve the Palestinian problem is to talk to them, the only way to understand Cuba is to listen and the only way to understand Iran is to talk to them and he appears willing to do so.

Yes we can. For 6 years I have been saying believe the unbelievable, dare to dream and never take no for an answer. AirAsia and so many of my staff have, and I suppose we all said yes we can.

For whatever her sins, America has once again led the world. It has shown that it will choose the best man for the job whatever the colour. Meritocracy rules. That is why whatever happens they always are able to innovate be it Apple or Google or eBay or Hollywood. Because they allow free speech which allows free minds which allows innovation and meritocracy.

We are blessed in Malaysia with a melting pot of races. It should be our brand. As the Swiss are known for their precision, we should be known for the only country that has such great ethnic groups.

Barack Obama has given hope to all in the world that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Believe the unbelievable
Dare to dream
Never take no for an answer

Yes we can.

Make your dreams come true and believe. The power of belief is enormous.