KUALA LUMPUR: The government has made no agreement or commitment to provide financial support to low-cost carrier AirAsia amid financial difficulties linked to the Middle East conflict, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar, who is also finance Mminister, said any application for government support from a company in any sector was considered based on the interests of the country and the people, the government's fiscal sustainability and the protection of public funds, in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
"To date, the government has made no agreement or commitment to provide financial support to AirAsia, whether in the form of guarantees, loans or injections of public funds.
"The government will not comment on speculation or figures reported by the media to avoid affecting the market and the interests of employees, customers and other stakeholders of the companies concerned," he said in a written parliamentary reply published on Parliament's website today.
He was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam), who asked whether the government was considering providing financial support to the AirAsia Group.
Anwar said the government continuously monitored developments in the country's aviation ecosystem, including the impact of the Middle East crisis, global fuel prices and currency movements on airlines and air connectivity for the people.
He added that the government took note of the issues raised concerning AirAsia, including the losses reported in its latest quarterly financial results, which the low-cost carrier attributed mainly to a sharp increase in jet fuel prices following developments in the Middle East conflict.
"AirAsia is an important part of this ecosystem. In 2025, AirAsia accounted for about 41 per cent of the 104.5 million passenger movements at airports operated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd and nearly 60 per cent of domestic passenger movements.
"Much of the air connectivity in Sabah and Sarawak depends on AirAsia flights.
"In 2025, AirAsia carried 62 per cent and 70 per cent of total passengers in Sabah and Sarawak respectively, excluding short take-off and landing (STOL) ports.
"At KLIA Terminal 2, AirAsia carried three-quarters of all passengers," he said.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously said that no meeting had been held between his ministry and AirAsia in the past "two or three weeks" amid speculation about potential government support for the low-cost carrier.
However, Loke said any discussions on the matter might have involved the Finance Ministry.
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