KUALA LUMPUR, 14 November 2005 — Flagship carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) will launch a cost-cutting drive from next month, with some senior staff taking pay cuts of up to 30 percent, news reports said yesterday. In a memo sent to staff earlier this week, Malaysia Airlines Chairman Munir Majid said that the company’s “financial performance is precarious and has increasingly become a source for concern”, the New Sunday Times reported. “There is now a need to extend the scope of the cost reduction focus and put in place more aggressive measures,” Munir said.