PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's first syariah-compliant airline Rayani Air has suspended operations effective immediately.

The company's owner, Ravi Alagendrran, told The Star's Malay language news portal on Saturday (April 9) morning that the suspension would last for a period that will be announced at a later time.

"Pleased be informed that we have suspended operations effective immediately on 8 April 2016 until further notice. This is part of a company restructuring plan. We will be operational again once after carrying out the restructuring," he told the portal via text message.

According to Mr Ravi, company officers had also been given the same information via email.

Based on the email, Mr Ravi requested his officers to order their respective divisions to cease operations and to "recalculate the company's assets".

Mr Ravi also said in the email that all refunds and questions concerning passengers who have made early bookings, should be extended to the company's website, info@rayaniair.com, or through the customer service call centre.

Attempts by The Star's Malay news portal to get confirmation from Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) chief Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman on the suspension have been unsuccessful.

Mr Ravi also confirmed that Rayani Air was forced to cancel flights following a strike organised by its pilots.

It was reported that the move by the pilots to strike, had caused a number of Rayani Air flights to be cancelled.

The situation became more complicated when passengers became unsatisfied when they were told about the cancellation only a few hours before their flights were scheduled to depart.

At least three flights from Kuala Lumpur (to Langakwi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching) on Friday were cancelled.