National carrier Malaysia Airlines is expected to appoint a new CEO on Friday following the departure of Idris Jala who will join the government as a minister.

The Edge Financial Daily, citing sources, said Malaysia Airlines' current Executive Director and Chief Financial Office Azmil Zaharuddin was expected to get the post.

"It (Azmil's appointment) will be announced together with the Bursa's announcement on the departure of Jala," the source said."

Cambridge-educated Azmil joined the Malaysia Airlines' board in 2004 and was appointed as Executive Director a year later. Jala had publicly said Azmil should succeed him once he leaves the company.

Jala, widely credited with turning around the national carrier, is to be appointed as a minister without portfolio to push for the implementation of national key performance indicators within the government, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Thursday.