GE13: MAS denies flying in phantom voters

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) rubbished allegations that it transported phantom voters from Sabah and Sarawak to peninsular Malaysia during the 13th general election.

Its group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said MAS had always been an airline with integrity and would not tolerate baseless allegations against the company.

“MAS operated commercial chartered flights to bring voters home to their constituencies so that they could exercise their right to vote.

“These flights were from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kuching and Sibu as well as from Sabah and Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur,” he told a press conference at the MAS academy in Kelana Jaya, here, yesterday.

He was responding to allegations made by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that there was an increase in the number of chartered flights, including those using Boeing 747, from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to the airports in the peninsula.

Anwar, who also showed an e-mail containing flight schedules and names of the alleged phantom voters, accused the Election Commission of working together with government agencies and the national carrier to carry out the alleged operation.

Ahmad Jauhari said MAS transported 6,553 passengers in 57 chartered flights between May 2 and May 4 as well as between May 6 and May 8.

“All were Malaysian citizens who presented their identity cards upon check-in,” he said.

He also said that the GE13 promotional campaign from April 17 to April 28 had overwhelming response, with 34,000 seats taken within two weeks of its launch.

“MAS has played its role as a responsible corporate player by introducing special fares for all Malaysian voters who wanted to return home to vote.

“In fact, we waived all penalties for revised travel plans during the general election period,” he said.