Azharuddin resigns as CAAM chairman
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, who became a familiar face among the public following the MH370 and MH17 aviation tragedies, is calling it quits as the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
He sent in his letter yesterday for the resignation to take effect on Aug 14.
Azharuddin’s notice of resignation comes a day after the Malaysian ICAO ( International Civil Aviation Organisation) Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370 released the MH370 Safety Investigation Report.
“It is with regret and after much thought and contemplation that I have decided to resign as the CAAM chairman effective 14 days from the date of the resignation notice which I served today,” he said in a statement.
Over the past four years, Azharuddin said, he tried his level best to assist in the search for the ill-fated Flight MH370 which disappeared on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
“I am ever resolute in finding answers we all seek towards this unfortunate tragedy as we owe it to the families and loved ones. I am saddened to have to leave under these circumstances.
“Serving this industry for more than 40 years has been the greatest honour of my life and I apologise for not being able to fulfill the remainder of my tenure.
“Aviation has been a core part of my life since childhood and it will remain for the rest of my life,” he said in the statement.
On Monday, the Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370 released the MH370 Safety Investigation Report outlining factual information, analyses, conclusion and safety recommendations based on its findings.
Azharuddin said that though the report did not suggest that the accident was caused by the then Department of Civil Aviation ( DCA), nevertheless, there were some very apparent findings with regard to the operation of the Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre, where it was stated that the Air Traffic Controller did not comply with certain Standard Operating Procedures.
Lead investigator Datuk Kok Soo Chon said the MH370 Safety Investigation Team was unable to determine the real cause for the disappearance of the ill-fated flight after identifying seven plausible theories which included a conspiracy theory, rumours and gossip on social media.
Kok also said that the 449-page report was not a final report on the search for the missing aircraft but was only on the safety investigation and it was separate from search and judicial investigations.
MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.
MH17, a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down on July 17, 2014, while flying over eastern Ukraine, resulting in the death of all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. — Bernama