Malaysian PM brushes off privatization of national carrier

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Monday that his government would not privatize the Malaysian Airlines to turn the national carrier around.

 

Najib said the plan to turn Malaysian Airlines around is bearing fruit as the carrier is reducing losses. But he stressed that turnaround "cannot happen overnight."

 

Najib said his government has no plan to sell Malaysian Airlines.

 

Malaysia's national airlines has been struggling to keep up with its low-cost rival AirAsia. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday suggested that privatization could make the airlines profitable again after several unsuccessful bids.