AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, criticised Singapore Airlines over its claim that it had only hired 10% of Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) engineering staff.

This comes as MAS faces technical issues, leading to flight delays and cancellations due to a shortage of engineering personnel. In response to accusations of staff poaching and workforce loss caused by factors like salary competition, MAS has experienced a significant departure of skilled engineers.

Fernandes, a Malaysian, disagreed with Singapore Airlines' claim, stating that it was inaccurate to suggest that only 10% of MAS's engineers had joined SIA. He questioned who the remaining 90% of SIA Engineering's staff members were, implying that more MAS engineers might have been hired.

Fernandes who posted the message on his LinkedIn post urged Singapore Airlines to be transparent about the salaries it offers, which may be attracting Malaysian airline staff to cross the causeway. He also expressed his support for Singaporean engineering firms establishing operations in Malaysia, as well as for competition from airlines such as Batik Air, MyAirlines, and SKS, emphasizing his belief in a free market. However, he voiced frustration over the lack of progress in AirAsia's efforts to establish a Singapore-based branch, noting that despite operating in five ASEAN countries, the group has faced obstacles, including rejection by Singaporean regulators in its bid to acquire a low-cost carrier there.

This rare criticism from Fernandes comes after a tumultuous five years for the prominent tycoon, who has only recently regained stability following a major restructuring of his business empire.