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according to plan. However, with a large
workforce, making sure that everything
functions well and proper is a challenge.
As we have also made a commitment to
our customers to ensure that they have
the best flying experience, my challenge
is to make sure that we deliver on those
promises.
What do you think of Firefly’s growth
success over the years?
Since the airline started seven years
ago, we have proven ourselves through
impressive profits for a small scale
operation. As this is a full serviced
airline, we have the potential to grow
even more. We have plans to increase
our fleet size and this year, we will be
bringing in two more aircraft units. We
have also started to perform a lot of our
own aircraft maintenance and there is
also an opportunity to grow laterally by
creating ATR simulator centres.
How have you personally grown in this
job?
In this capacity as COO, I have come to
employ a holistic approach to solving
problems. As my job requires me to be in
charge of many aspects of the company,
I have developed a “helicopter” view to
a lot of things and I learnt to become a
better problem-solver. The job may be
a challenge, but challenge is good as it
keeps me on my toes at all time. There’s
never a dull moment here and it keeps
my mind occupied.
What do you enjoy doing during your
free time?
I like to take time off to listen to my
favourite music. At my age, it’s important
to stay fit and healthy so I go for walks
on the treadmill. Family time is also very
important to me, so I make sure that I
spend time with them whenever I can. I
like to pamper them, and myself, with a
nice family dinner outside on weekends
and on special occasions.
You’ve been in this industry for 34 years.
What advice doyou have for theyounger
generationwhoare just gettingstarted in
their career?
Times have changed and back then,
jobs were not as abundant as today, so
we did not have the luxury of switching
jobs whenever we pleased. My advice
is to hold on to your job and treasure
it. Grow with the job and it will slowly
but surely grow on you until it comes
to a point where you can’t see yourself
doing anything else as you are just so
passionate about it. To succeed in your
career, the most important thing is to
love your job. Before you know it, time
will fly when you’re having so much fun
doing what you like.
FireFlyz | 71
Howdidyouendup in theairline industry?
I actually graduated in 1979 from
University Malaya, majoring in Applied
Mathematics. A job opportunity in
Malaysian Airlines came by and I ended
up spending a better part of my life there.
After my retirement there, I joined Firefly.
I’ve been in the industry for an amazing
34 years, with more to come, hopefully.
What is the most challenging aspect of
your job?
For me, it would be getting all the different
divisions to gel together and harmonise
in order to get the operations up and
running. Each individual in the company
has to be aware of how their work
impacts one another. When everyone
is in-tune with their responsibility and
performs accordingly, everything can go