Ida Adora Ismail, whose late father founded the company, said she could have deserted them “years ago” if she had not cared about them.
She also acknowledged that the company’s financial struggles had made them the “victims”.
“My sincere apologies to each and every one of you. I have been quiet because everyone else was being very loud. But silence does not mean that nothing is being done to (help the company) recover,” she said in an email to employees sighted by FMT.
“The newly assigned management (team), even if not perfect, is working day and night to help lift SAS back to its (former) glory.
“I am forever thankful to each and (every) one of them for their ongoing efforts and undying support for SAS,” she added.
Ida reminded the employees that the company had made sacrifices for their benefit during the Covid-19 pandemic, even when 70% of its business activities were disrupted.
“Now that it’s post-pandemic, the company needs to realign its course to fulfil its dues and obligations,” she said, appealing to workers to “give it time to breathe and flourish”.
“I could have abandoned all of you years ago if I did not care about you. Respect and trust work both ways. Like a marriage, you must go through it together, good or bad.
“I know things have not been easy for all of you but the company is doing its very best. Those who are leaving, or have left, I sincerely wish you all the best.
“To everyone else, do not give up. We are here and we will be okay. I am here. We will get through this together,” she said.
SAS ran into trouble when the Malaysian Aviation Commission did not renew the company’s air service permit (ASP) which expired on Feb 29, for failing to remit millions in EPF and tax deductions to the respective statutory bodies over the past few years.
On March 12, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) suspended SAS’s air operation certificate (AOC) for 90 days, saying the move was related to its failure to have its ASP renewed.
While yesterday was the deadline for the AOC renewal, CAAM later extended the suspension until July 31, giving the firm until then to renew its ASP.
Ida tried to reassure employees that business activities were already kicking in, saying this would help the company strengthen its financial position and “catch up with all its dues”.
She said its English language proficiency training programme, which has been suspended, had already gone through the preliminary stages of reactivation and was due to be up and running by July 1.
She added that it had already drawn its first client, from Indonesia.
Recounting her personal journey at SAS, Ida said she officially took over as CEO in 2017 upon the passing of her father, who had spent 20 years building the company.
She said that with her father’s death, she had lost her mentor. “I have become the head of both my family and the company,” she added.
She said she had spent the past few months trying to “turn the ship around” and “getting it back on course”.
“It is always easier blaming people and pointing fingers instead of taking accountability. But it doesn’t pay the bills. SAS is my home and yours. It is the shelter we all sit under after many years of building,” she added.