Hurting those they should be helping
I AM writing in response to the amendment to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) Act 2015 which would allow the said body to impose a RM1 fee for passengers to fund its own operations, “RM1 flight levy starts January” ( The Star, Oct 25).
I am deeply disappointed that our Government has decided to let the Commission source its funding from the very consumers it is supposed to protect.
Mavcom was established less than two years ago and recently boasted receiving 677 complaints between March and August this year. The Commission claimed that the rise in consumer complaints indicates the effectiveness of their educational initiatives – bringing rights awareness to consumers and encouraging them to exercise those rights.
If the Commission is such a success, why then is the Government ceasing its funding? Why do con- sumers need to pay to exercise their rights and be heard?
Besides that, Mavcom also plans to increase the passenger service charge (PSC) at KLIA2 to match KLIA. This makes no sense considering the stark differences between the two airports.
As a senior citizen, I had a deeply unpleasant experience travelling through KLIA2 last year to visit my son in Australia.
First, above and beyond the airport’s notorious size – with a 2km walk from immigration to the boarding gates – the check-in and immigration queues were crowded and disorderly.
While I am thankfully still mobile, my 78-year-old husband is not so. I had prepared myself for the long walk and requested wheelchair assistance for my husband. What I was not prepared for was pushing my husband the whole 2km without any help from the airport attendants!
I have flown overseas many times before but never have I experienced such horrible service.
What has Mavcom done to make KLIA2 more accessible to people of all ages and abilities? Why are they demanding that we pay more for such atrocious services? Whose side are they on?
These are questions I wish to see answered before any more new charges are implemented. THEVARANI SELVA Seremban
If the Commission is such a success, why then is the Government ceasing its funding?