PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry has not met AirAsia Malaysia in the past two to three weeks amid talks of potential government support for the low-cost carrier.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said any discussions on the matter may have involved the Finance Ministry.
"There is no agreement with the Transport Ministry. We have not had any meetings with AirAsia recently.
"Airlines do hold regular meetings with the government, but in the past two to three weeks, there have been no meetings with AirAsia and no agreement," he told a press conference here today.
Earlier, AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes said he had met officials from the Finance Ministry two weeks ago to discuss potential government support for Southeast Asia's largest low-cost airline.
Fernandes also said he had met officials from the Finance and Transport ministries during the week beginning Sept 28, at his request.
He said the discussions focused on aviation-related costs, including airport charges and fuel, rather than financial assistance.
However, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters that the talks reflected growing government concern about the financial health of the country's largest domestic carrier following a spike in jet fuel prices.
They said discussions centred on the possibility of the government backing AirAsia's fundraising efforts, subject to proposed conditions that remain under discussion.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
