KUALA LUMPUR - AirAsia group CEO and co-founder Tony Fernandes has faced plenty of big challenges during his time at the airline but probably no bigger challenge than the investigation into claims that two Air Asia executives were paid a bribe of $US50 million by European plane maker Airbus.
Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission is working alongside Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in probing the allegations.
Fernandes and AirAsia chairman and co-founder Kamarudin Meranun have relinquished their executive roles in the company for a period of two months.
“We categorically deny any and all allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct on our part as directors of AirAsia. We would not harm the very companies that we spent our entire lives building up to their present global status,” the pair said.
They also welcomed any investigations by the authorities and promised fullest co-operation.
According to the SFO, two AirAsia executives accepted money from Airbus to sponsor a motor racing team they owned.
Air Asia said Fernandes and Kamarudin would be retained as advisors of the company during the two-month period, “in view of the current difficult economic circumstances facing the airline industry”.
Airbus last week said it had agreed a settlement with US, UK and French authorities following lengthy investigations into allegations that it bribed airlines to purchase its planes.
Sri Lanka has also ordered an investigation over the sale of aircraft to state-run carrier SriLankan Airlines, the BBC reported.