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New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
AirAsia founder eyes Malaysian football runway [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Tony Fernandes may have stepped away from football years ago, but he is ready to make a comeback. And the AirAsia founder is eyeing the FA of Malaysia (FAM) runway — meaning he hopes to help local football. Fernandes, a former co-owner of English club, Queens Park Rangers, returned to the spotlight as Team Harimau manager at the Zurich Liga 7x7 tournament at Kuala Lumpur FA Stadium on Saturday. At 60, Fernandes' passion for football is evidently still running strong. "It was amazing (Zurich Liga). Everyone who came, enjoyed themselves. It was impressive that people took it seriously — protested, got upset they didn't win. That's passion," said Fernandes, who fielded a squad of mostly ex-internationals. He said watching Malaysia beat Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier last month, has reignited his long-held goal to contribute more meaningfully to Malaysian football. "I love football. I'm 60 and I still go out there and kick a ball. If they (FAM) want me, I would love to help," he said. "I've never been offered any positions in FAM or anywhere, right? Maybe I'm too controversial or speak my mind too much. But I'm 100 per cent (if there is an offer to join FAM), I want to see us back at our best." Fernandes, who also ran a football team, PJ Rangers from 2014-2018, said: "When competing with the J-League, K-League and Saudi League, you need proper pitches, sports science, analytics, and the full package. That's what we're missing." Fernandes believes that new formats, such as seven-a-side football, will be of much interest to younger audiences, much like Twenty20 in cricket, while boosting participation at the grassroots level. Fernandes now wants to revive two things close to his heart – sports and social impact. "I want to build a low-cost school and hospital. But if there's one more project that I could do with all my heart, it's bringing Malaysian football back to life." Previous Next
New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
AirAsia founder eyes Malaysian football runway
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Tony Fernandes may have stepped away from football years ago, but he is ready to make a comeback. And the AirAsia founder is eyeing the FA of Malaysia (FAM) runway — meaning he hopes to help local football. Fernandes, a former co-owner of English club, Queens Park Rangers, returned to the spotlight as Team Harimau manager at the Zurich Liga 7x7 tournament at Kuala Lumpur FA Stadium on Saturday. View this post on Instagram At 60, Fernandes' passion for football is evidently still running strong. "It was amazing (Zurich Liga). Everyone who came, enjoyed themselves. It was impressive that people took it seriously — protested, got upset they didn't win. That's passion," said Fernandes, who fielded a squad of mostly ex-internationals. He said watching Malaysia beat Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier last month, has reignited his long-held goal to contribute more meaningfully to Malaysian football. "I love football. I'm 60 and I still go out there and kick a ball. If they (FAM) want me, I would love to help," he said. "I've never been offered any positions in FAM or anywhere, right? Maybe I'm too controversial or speak my mind too much. But I'm 100 per cent (if there is an offer to join FAM), I want to see us back at our best." Fernandes, who also ran a football team, PJ Rangers from 2014-2018, said: "When competing with the J-League, K-League and Saudi League, you need proper pitches, sports science, analytics, and the full package. That's what we're missing." Fernandes believes that new formats, such as seven-a-side football, will be of much interest to younger audiences, much like Twenty20 in cricket, while boosting participation at the grassroots level. Fernandes now wants to revive two things close to his heart – sports and social impact. "I want to build a low-cost school and hospital. But if there's one more project that I could do with all my heart, it's bringing Malaysian football back to life."
Business Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Food Empire partners AirAsia to launch ready-to-drink beverages
[SINGAPORE] Mainboard-listed Food Empire will partner low-cost airline AirAsia to co-develop and launch a new range of ready-to-drink beverages. The memorandum of understanding was signed between Food Empire's unit Empire International and AirAsia's Santan Food Services, said the statement on Thursday (Jul 17). Tony Fernandes, chief executive of AirAsia and its Malaysia-listed parent company Capital A, said that the partnership aims to create a product that reflects South-east Asia's culture and heritage. It will also pave the way for the companies to collaborate on co-branded and private label initiatives, Food Empire and Santan Food Services said. The partnership will kick off with a Vietnamese iced coffee product that will be sold on board flights of the Malaysian budget airline co-founded by Fernandes, and through regional retail channels under the Santan brand. With evolving consumer preferences in mind, the companies said they aim to deliver 'authentic and great-tasting Vietnamese iced coffee products that cater to modern lifestyle trends, including healthier options with less sugar'. Tan Wang Cheow, executive chairman of Food Empire, said: 'This collaboration with Santan aligns with our strategy to cater to consumer trends and bring an authentic CafePho Vietnamese coffee experience on AirAsia flights, so that more people can enjoy our great-tasting beverages.' Food Empire is a multinational food-and-beverage manufacturing and distribution company headquartered in Singapore. Its portfolio spans instant beverages, snack foods and food ingredients, including coffee mixes, chocolate drinks, instant cereal blends and potato chips. It sells products in more than 60 countries globally.
Business Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Food Empire, AirAsia partner to launch ready-to-drink beverages
[SINGAPORE] Food Empire will collaborate with low-cost airline AirAsia to co-develop and launch a new range of ready-to-drink beverages. The collaboration was formalised with a memorandum of understanding signed between Food Empire's subsidiary Empire International and AirAsia unit Santan Food Services, said both companies on Thursday (Jul 17). It will kick-off with a Vietnamese iced coffee product that will be sold on flights of the airline co-founded by Tony Fernandes and through retail channels across the region. This will pave the way for the companies to explore further co-branded and private label initiatives across a wider range of beverages and snack products. Fernandes, the chief executive officer of AirAsia and its parent company Capital A, said that the partnership aims to create a product that reflects South-east Asia's culture and heritage. Wang Cheow, executive chairman of Food Empire said: 'This collaboration with Santan aligns with our strategy to cater to consumer trends and bring an authentic CafePho Vietnamese coffee experience on AirAsia flights, so that more people can enjoy our great-tasting beverages.'
Malay Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
AirAsia's investor talks take flight as restructuring nears endgame
SINGAPORE, July 9 — Budget airline AirAsia is nearing the conclusion of talks with potential strategic investors as the Malaysia-based airline approaches the end of its restructuring process, Deputy Group CEO Farouk Kamal said today. The airline, whose parent company Capital A was classified as financially distressed by Malaysia's stock exchange in 2022, is arranging a RM1 billion equity injection alongside financing for its extensive order book of new planes, Kamal said, speaking on a panel at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit. Capital A Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said in March that the RM1 billion private placement was 'done', but has not disclosed the identity of the investors. He declined to comment on a Bloomberg report in March that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund was set to invest US$100 million (RM425.3 million). Kamal said AirAsia was coming to the final conclusion of talks with investors 'not just from an equity injection perspective, but from an overall transactions perspective', and hopes to make an announcement in 'due course'. AirAsia, one of Asia's largest low-cost carriers and one of Airbus' largest customers, has around 360 planes on order. On Friday, AirAsia signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to buy 50 long-range A321XLR planes with conversion rights for another 20 of the single-aisle jets. Fernandes said last week he hoped to exit the financially distressed status soon, once restructuring efforts are complete. As part of this, Capital A is in the process of selling its AirAsia aviation business to long-haul unit AirAsia X to consolidate long- and short-haul operations under a single AirAsia brand. — Reuters
