SEPANG: Monspace Sky Airlines and the company it claimed to have been operating under – Suasa Airlines – have both violated several aviation regulations, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Despite having its Air Service Permit (ASP) application rejected by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), Suasa Airlines went ahead with its operations, going as far as to launch its maiden flight last Friday, Liow said.

“Without ASP, they cannot fly. It’s because they flew that we have lodged a police report and also started an investigation into this case.

“We are treating this as a very serious offence,” Liow told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the ICAO-WCO joint conference held at Sama-Sama Hotel here yesterday.

On Monspace owner’s claim that the airline has received the necessary permit to fly, Liow said they have only received “technical approval” from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) in the form of an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).

Liow explained that the airline was indeed approved by the DCA for point-to-point flights between Subang Airport and KLIA to position their aircraft.

However, the ministry has received complaints that the company was promoting itself as a commercial airline even before receiving a permit from Mavcom, he added.

Another offence the airline committed was operating under a different entity.

Liow pointed out that the AOC was issued to Suasa Airlines, not to Monspace Sky Airlines.

Sin Chew Daily reported that the airline operated with a used aircraft from Malaysia Airlines and had, on the plane’s tray-tables, pictures of Zhang Jian, the Chinese national who made headlines after huge signboards of him as the self-proclaimed “future richest person in the world” were put up in Penang two years ago.

Zhang Jian, who founded Yun Shu Mao – better known as YSLM or CDTUP in Malaysia – left the country after the Government cracked down on his multi-level marketing scheme.

Though its maiden flight touched down at the Langkawi International Airport, a check by the Chinese daily showed that there was no record of a flight from Suasa Airlines or Monspace airline arriving there last Friday.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from Mavcom confirmed that it has lodged a police report against Monspace Sky Airlines as it had marketed itself as an airline.

“Mavcom is also ascertaining whether Monspace airline has contravened the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015 (Act 771),” said the spokesman.

If found guilty, the owner is liable to a maximum fine of RM1mil or jail not exceeding 10 years, or both.

Mavcom said to operate as a commercial airline, a company is required to hold a valid ASP from the commission as well as an AOC from DCA.

-The Star-