MAS denies flew phantom voters for polls

(Bernama) – Malaysia Airlines (MAS) ferried 6,553 passengers in 57 commercial chartered flights between May 2 and May 4, and from May 6 to May 8, as the carrier pooh-poohed claims it carried so-called phantom voters during 13th general election.

MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya (picture) said all the passengers were Malaysian citizens who presented their identity cards upon check-in.

“Malaysia Airlines has and will always be an airline with integrity and as such, we would not tolerate further baseless allegations against us and will do whatever necessary to protect our position,” he told a press conference at the Malaysia Airlines Academy here today.

He said MAS operated commercial chartered flights to bring voters home to their constituencies, so they could exercise their right to vote.

“These flights were from Kuala Lumpur to four destinations, namely Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kuching, Sibu and return, and also voters from Sabah and Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur and return,” he said.

Ahmad Jauhari said the carrier had played its role as a responsible corporate player by introducing special fares to Malaysian voters who needed to return home to vote.

“In fact, Malaysia Airlines waived all penalties for revised travel plans for all our passengers during the period of the general election. We were probably, the only airline to do so,” he said.

He said the general election promotional campaign — from April 17 to April 28 — received overwhelming response.

“Within two weeks of the announcement of the campaign, 34,000 seats were already taken.

“However, it is unfortunate that several allegations were made against Malaysia Airlines, specifically that Malaysia Airlines carried so-called phantom voters on our aircraft between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak during the recent general election,” he said.