KUALA LUMPUR: The resignation of the Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) CEO Peter Bellew came as a surprise Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
According to Liow, he has yet to read the report on Bellew's resignation, adding that he did not see it coming.
"I have not received the report (on Bellew's resignation) so I would have to wait for it first.
"It was shocking because I didn't receive any hints earlier. So I would like to find out the details first," he told reporters when met at the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deepavali open house here.
Also present during the open house were the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak as well as Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
It was reported that Bellew had resigned on Tuesday, midway through a three-year contract that was supposed to end in June 2019.
Bellew, who joined the national flag carrier in 2015 as its chief operating officer before replacing Christoph Mueller in July 2016, is returning to Ryanair as the budget airline's chief operations officer starting Dec. 1.
When asked on who will replace Bellew as CEO, Liow said the decision will depend on Khazanah Nasional Berhad, who owns MAB.
"We are confident the MAB's transformation will continue irrespective of who will be the CEO or COO. MAB transformation is on the agenda and MAB is doing okay.
"The resignation will not affect (MAB) but we will have to find out the reason first," he added.
Following Bellew's resignation, speculation has begun on the possible front-runners to helm MAB.
Mass Rapid Transit Corp (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, with his experience in the transport industry, is said to be among the top contenders for the post.
This is not the first time he has been tipped for the job. His name was also mentioned as a possible replacement when Mueller announced his resignation in April last year.
Shahril was group managing director of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd from 2010 until 2014 before moving on to MRT Corp in January last year.