A level playing field and removal of protectionist and monopolistic barriers to encourage competition in both the aviation sector and in business, is the impassioned call of Azran Osman Rani (pictured right), chief executive officer of AirAsia X, Malaysia's long-haul budget carrier.

In implementing such moves and allowing companies to compete, Malaysia will benefit economically. "It won't cost the government money, but at the same time it will benefit consumers and create a healthy industry," Azran said on the sidelines of the StarBiz-ICR Malaysia CEO forum held in Kuala Lumpur recently.

He hopes such measures would be part of Malaysia's Budget 2011, which will be revealed in Parliament by Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak on Friday (October 15).

"We're less concerned about taxes or subsidies. We're more concerned about the Government creating a level playing field. We'd like to see policies that encourage competition and therefore innovation."

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