Government to sell MAS stake

Government to sell MAS stake

KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones): Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin said
the government may sell a stake in Malaysian Airline System Bhd.
to foreign partners to strengthen the company, the national
Bernama news agency reported Wednesday.

Loss-making Malaysian Airline operates national flag carrier
Malaysia Airlines.

"To strengthen MAS (Malaysian Airline), the government needs
to consider the creation of a suitable strategic alliance to
enable MAS to face the challenges of the globalization era," Daim
was quoted saying in Parliament.

"This includes equity participation by strategic foreign
companies in MAS," he said.

Daim said the government is prepared to engage an experienced
foreign expert from the aviation industry for Malaysian Airline,
but didn't say in what capacity.

Last month, the government completed buying tycoon Tajudin
Ramli's controlling 29.09 percent stake in Malaysian Airline,
held through aviation company Naluri Bhd.