Eaglexpress Air Charter (Kuala Lumpur International) and Suasa Airlines (Kuala Lumpur Subang) have filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against a former Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) official claiming abuse of power.

Both defunct carriers had recently argued with the regulator over the conditions under which they were forced to terminate activities.

In Eaglexpress's case, its Air Services Permit (ASP) was revoked in December 2016 after the airline failed to meet minimum financial benchmarks needed to ensure safe, sustainable operations. In Suasa Airlines' case, the start-up was found to have violated local aviation regulations by conducting an unsanctioned commercial charter flight in July 2016 despite it lacking a valid ASP let alone an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). Suasa Airlines CEO Sheikh Salleh Abod later claimed that the move was unwarranted as he had been given approval by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to conduct the flight which he claimed to be a non-commercial, demonstration flight albeit with 140 passengers onboard.

Free Malaysia Today said in its report that Sheikh Salleh's claim stemmed from what he said was the MAVCOM official advising him to set up a new carrier and apply for a new ASP albeit without his participation on its board. The report said Sheikh agreed with the proposal under the belief that he could later join the carrier's board. However, he then claimed that the MAVCOM official in question then asked the new carrier's two other board members to list the official's nephew as the director and shareholder of the company, a request he deemed unacceptable.

For his part, Eaglexpress president Azlan Zainal Abidin's claim stemmed from a similar request the MAVCOM official made to him. Azlan claimed that he, too, was requested to set up a new carrier once Eaglexpress's ASP was revoked. He said two company representatives had a meeting with the official in question wherein they were directed to apply for a new licence under a new company, but that Azlan could not be part of that company. Azlan also claimed that the official refused to divulge why he couldn’t be part of the new company.

Both Salleh and Azlan said they wanted MACC to investigate if the official had abused his power.