Kuala Lampur, Dec. 12 -- News that the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will merge with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) appears to have taken the former by surprise.

Mavcom executive chairman Nungsari A. Radhi has confirmed news reports that the Transport Ministry planned to go ahead with the merger, but expressed his disappointment that the civil aviation economic and commercial regulator was not consulted beforehand.

"We are all on the same side; we all have the same concerns about the state and development of the industry in Malaysia, the health of the aviation service providers, consumer welfare and investor confidence. There is also this urgent issue of CAAM downgrade that needs to be addressed together.

"All...