MAHB: MANPOWER SHORTAGE RESOLVED
It says situation has returned to normal; transport minister asks for report
MASRIWANIE MUHAMADING KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
ACTION will be taken to ensure that the baggage handling fiasco at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on Friday will not recur, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday.
Liow said he had asked for a report on what transpired, adding that it should not have happened in the first place.
“I want to know who is responsible and I have asked for a report,” he said after attending SK Sulaiman’s Parent-Teacher Association annual general meeting in Bentong.
Due to the baggage handling issue, Liow said 48 flights were delayed and more than 1,500 passengers affected.
In a statement yesterday, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said AeroDarat Services, the ground handler appointed by several airlines at KLIA, had resolved the manpower shortage which had caused the problem.
MAHB said the situation returned to normal late in the morning and there were no more flight delays as of midnight the same day.
On its Facebook page on Friday, MAHB said the problem was caused by a shortage of manpower following changes in work shift patterns and roster issues.
Siti Aishah Ramsie, who commented on NST online’s Facebook page, urged MAHB to take action in order to instil discipline among its workers.
“Workers who fail to turn up at the last minute is not a common issue.
“I believe there are other agencies and departments that experience manpower shortage.
“It is an attitude problem. Do something about their discipline. It is time to make a change.”
Sharing Siti’s view, Zulbadriabdul Aziz demanded a more convincing explanation and action from MAHB.
“That’s it? Is that all you can tell us? No disciplinary action against the people responsible for this? The same attitude and culture.
“Standard operation procedures are just to make them look good on paper,” said Zulbadriabdul.
Chin Mark said: “This is a management problem, not manpower problem. Inept management and on-site supervision.”
Another Facebook user Kamarulnizam Abdullah said the issue could have started before Friday.
“This issue has cropped up in the last few months. Today may have been the worst,” Kamarulnizam said in his post.