MAHB: SEVERE PENALTIES AWAIT AIRLINES IF DUES ARE NOT SETTLED
You will face closure of operations or suspension of licence, says managing director
MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has warned Malindo Air and other airlines of hefty penalties if they fail to pay
their overdues within the fiscal year. Managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said the penalties include operations closure or licence suspension.
Badlisham said MAHB would not take a lenient approach to encourage faster collection by offering rebates to airlines owing outstanding payments to the airport operator.
He, however, noted that all airlines did eventually pay the airport taxes they collected.
“In the past, there has never been a case where an airline failed to pay its airport tax except for those that departed (closed operations) from operating at Malaysia’s airports.
“It is not a debt, it is only an overdue. Malindo Air, in this case, has gone through some growing pains as it has new destinations and frequencies to cater for,” Badlisham said here yesterday.
“I believe if it intends to continue operating in Malaysia, it will ensure
that its outstanding dues are paid.”
It was reported that Malindo had an overdue of about RM70 million in airport taxes but Badlisham declined to deny or confirm the amount.
This week, the Transport Ministry had ordered MAHB to immediately resolve the issue of Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd — the operator of Malindo Air — failing to pay the airport tax.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had reportedly issued the order at a meeting with MAHB chairman Tan Sri Syed Zainol Anwar Syed Putra Jamalullail last week.
On July 30, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi urged MAHB to clarify if Malindo Air had paid RM70 million in airport taxes this year.
He also asked why the airline was given “special treatment” in paying the outstanding amount.