AirAsia's founder, Tony Fernandes, has called for Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC) to be "fully transparent" in the details over its recruitment of engineers from Malaysia Airlines.

In a post on LinkedIn, Fernandes challenged SIAEC to reveal details such as salaries and where the majority of its workforce comes from.

He wrote:

"TIME to be FULLY transparent and also for SINGAPORE to be fully open in its markets

So where did the other 90 per cent come from ? And what salaries are you paying ? Let’s be transparent . So your 90 per cent are all school leavers?"

Why is Fernandes making such a statement?

His post followed SIAEC's statement that less than 10 per cent of its hires are from the engineering arm of Malaysia Airlines, MAB Engineering Services, according to The Edge Malaysia.

SIAEC had put out its statement in response to the news that 63 out of 411 engineers from MAB Engineering Services had left to work for it since Jan. 2024.

The news drew criticism from Malaysian politicians who accused the Malaysian government of allowing a Singapore-owned company to 'poach' workers from Malaysia Airlines.

Fernandes clarifies he supports SIAEC's presence in Malaysia

Fernandes clarified that he supported SIAEC's presence in Malaysia, as he felt it was good for the country and on account of being a "free market man".

But the AirAsia CEO then claimed that both Singapore and Malaysia are aware that for at least 10 years, he has been trying to receive approval for AirAsia Singapore.

He added that Singapore needs to have "real competition" like Malaysia.

Fernandes wrote:

"We are in five Asean countries. The people of Singapore have little choice. I even tried to buy a lcc (low-cost carrier) there but it was turned down.

If you want an open Asean, Singapore needs to stop protecting and have real competition like Malaysia and other Asean countries have."

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Top left photo via Tony Fernandes/LinkedIn, right photo sia SIAEC website