KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - AirAsia group executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has urged the government to focus on the economy and address problems compounding the depreciating value of the ringgit.

Fernandes said job creation and reviving the economy should be the government's immediate priorities.

"I hope our government focuses on the ringgit as opposed to banning the Internet. I think we should get our priorities right," he said Wednesday, after announcing David Foster as AirAsia's first global brand ambassador.

Malaysia's ringgit slid past 4.0 to the dollar on Wednesday for the first time in 17 years, pounded by concerns over economic growth and political uncertainty stemming from a government financial scandal, AFP reported.

Fernandes was however upbeat about AirAsia's growth and pointed out sales were still strong.

"We will use the weakening ringgit to attract more people to Malaysia," he said.