Loke: Let experts resolve ILS issue

‘Malaysia-Singapore meeting would be held sometime in January to seek a solution’

PUTRAJAYA: Technical experts from Malaysia and Singapore should be given room to resolve the dispute of the new Instrument Landing System (ILS) for Seletar Airport, said Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said Malaysia had already made its position on the matter “very clear” and did not intend to prolong it.

“Enough has been said (on the ILS issue). We have made our point. We have even come up with a video to explain our position. I think it is very clear.

“On any technical considerations, I think I will leave it to the technical experts from both sides to thrash it out,” Loke told a press con- ference at KLIA2.

He said a bilateral meeting between Malaysia and Singapore would be held “sometime in January” to seek a solution on the matter.

The issue arose when Malaysia revealed that Singapore had issued new ILS procedures for Seletar Airport, which was scheduled to be enforced on Jan 3.

Malaysia sent a protest note to Singapore over the country’s intention to use the airspace above Pasir Gudang as a flight path for aircraft landing at Seletar Airport.

Loke had said using the limitation on the airspace in Pasir Gudang would affect development in the industrial town, as a building height restriction would have to be imposed.

Pasir Gudang is located just over 2km away from Seletar Airport.

Meanwhile, the Transport Ministry wants the passenger service charge (PSC) dispute between Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) and AirAsia to be dealt with amicably.

“We (the ministry) will de-escalate the tension between MAHB and AirAsia. We will take steps to negotiate.

“I want both sides to sit down and thrash it out. We will mediate,” said Loke.

AirAsia Bhd and AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) have received demand notices for over RM36mil from a unit of MAHB for outstanding airport taxes. Both airlines have said that they will defend the suit proceedings “vigorously”, claiming that the allegations were “without justification”.

Loke yesterday launched the “Happy Guests, Caring Hosts Service Culture Transformation Programme” at the airport.

The initiative is held to ensure services for the disabled as well as senior citizens at Malaysia’s airports were top-notch.

MAHB announced additional new buggy services as well as extra wheelchairs at KLIA2.

“If we are to become a country with a firstworld mindset, then we must ensure that all sections of society, including the elderly and the disabled, are not neglected,” said Loke in his speech.