 In September 2001, Fernandes purchased AirAsia and became its chief executive.It was through Datuk Pahamin A. Rejab, the former secretary-general of the Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry that Fernandes came to meet with then Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in October 2001.Instead of starting from scratch, Mahathir advised Fernandes to buy an existing airline.