Rafidah resigns as AirAsia X chair

AirAsia X Bhd today announced the resignation of Rafidah Aziz as chairman of the low-cost airline effective July 1, 2022.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, AirAsia X said the resignation came as the former international trade and industry minister had nearly finished the period of service allowed for an independent director.

“(Tan Sri) would then have to comply with the change of status, from an independent board member to a non-independent director and the other requirements that follow,” it said.

According to AirAsia X’s 2021 annual report, Rafidah was appointed as an independent non-executive director on March 31, 2011.

She was reappointed as independent non-executive senior chairman when the company went public on July 10, 2013.

She was also chairman of the nomination and remuneration committee as well as the company’s risk management committee.

The report also showed that, according to the company directors’ remuneration for the financial period ended June 30, 2021, Rafidah was paid RM401,500 including RM382,500 in fees and allowances of RM19,000.

The payment had been questioned, especially by passengers still waiting to be refunded for flights cancelled as far back as 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The airline said repayments in cash could not be made as the company had gone through a debt restructuring process in court.

Meanwhile, in another filing to Bursa Malaysia, AirAsia X announced the appointment of Tunku Mahmood Fawzy Tunku Muhyiddin as an independent non-executive director with immediate effect.