KUALA LUMPUR (June 3): Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is apparently still on a recuitment drive even as some 6,000 of its staff received termination letters on Monday.

A check on the MAS website's recruitment page showed that the national carrier is still recruiting, with vacancies for cabin crew.

"We are looking for dynamic and highly motivated individuals to contribute to the growth of our airline.

"If you would like to apply for a position, please email your latest resume/CV to [email protected].

"Only shortlisted candidates will be notified," the page states.

A click on the vacancy for cabin crew directs users to a job application form which they can download and fill.

This move, if true, will certainly anger employees who received termination letters on Monday, which according to president of the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) Ismail Nasaruddin also included female cabin crew members who are on maternity leave.

Ismail had said the management was being heartless by axing employees on maternity leave.

"MAS has terminated the jobs of women crew members who are currently on maternity leave and asked them finish their leave even though they know that these crew are on maternity," he said, adding that this was insenstive to employees who had served the airline for many years.

The airline sent out termination letters to some 20,000 staff on Monday, offering re-employment to some 14,000 staff under the newly branded MAS Berhad.

"The reduced workforce at NewCo is driven primarily by operational requirements of the new airline.

"As such, not all employees who possessed the talent and experience that matched NewCo’s needs have been offered employment," MAS said in a statement.

MAS owner, Khazanah Nasional Berhad unveiled a 12-point comprehensive exercise for the flag carrier last year to return the airline into profitability by 2017.

Under the plan, Khazanah will invest up to RM6 billion on a staggered and conditional basis over three years.

It will also see the setting up of a new company to house the carrier, rationalise routes, renegotiate current contracts, cut 30% of the 20,000-strong workforce and move its operations from Subang to Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The flag carrier had undergone three restructuring exercises since 2007 which had failed to yield any results due to a bloated workforce, changing market demands, stiff competition and high overhead costs.

MAS's ailing condition was further affected by two major aviation disasters last year.

Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished in March 2014 with 239 people, while flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down over Ukrainian air space on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.