“Nizar tendered his resignation even before the decision was made (by FAA),” CAAM board member Ragunath Kesavan told reporters here.

He said Nizar had tendered his resignation in October.

Asked the reason for his resignation, Ragunath only said that they “respected his wishes”.

He said that Nizar became CAAM CEO after he retired from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and had served for more than a year.

“He tendered his resignation and we have to respect his wishes,” he said.

Fellow board member Afzal Abdul Rahim said they have yet to shortlist candidates to succeed Nizar.

“The search for the CEO has just started,” he said, adding that they expect a new CEO to come aboard in a few months.

Afzal also said the implementation of the authority’s plans will not be affected by the absence of a CEO as it had an acting CEO in Zainul Fuad.