MAVCOM should play it’s role by protecting consumers instead of burdening the people with additional taxes for traveling from KLIA2 and other Malaysian airports.
Established under the Malaysian Aviation Commission Act 2015, MAVCOM’s functions as laid out in the Act, include to:
- regulate economic matters relating to the civil aviation industry;
- provide a mechanism for protection of consumers;
- provide a mechanism for dispute resolution between aviation industry players;
- administer and manage air traffic rights;
- advise the Government, administer and manage routes under public service obligations.
Contrary to the above, hiking up the passenger service charge (PSC) at KLIA2 does not protect the consumers. Instead it burdens the consumers travelling on a budget by imposing on them higher fees than before.
Furthermore, the hike does not stop there. Other airports such as in Subang, Ipoh, and Senai among others, will also experience a hike of PSC charges as a result of this equalisation. As a commission, MAVCOM should understand that facilities at KLIA2 and other airports are not on par with those in KLIA. Therefore, MAVCOM’s justification to ensure there’s ‘level playing field’ is nonsensical.
In addition, MAVCOM is planning to charge air travellers departing from Malaysia a levy of RM1, starting January next year. This is said to be the commission’s bid to fund its operations after government financing is scheduled to cease by 2018.
Estimating from the number of passengers departing from Malaysia in 2016, this move could bring in an estimated RM21.81 million a year to MAVCOM next year. What will MAVCOM do with such huge funding? Has it’s achievements since its establishment in 2015 justify this levy?
Our answer is a resounding No! MAVCOM’s priority should be ensuring passengers are given the best service possible and ensure that there are minimal complaints regarding services.
As of now, service standards by airlines and at the airports are still much left to be desired. Flight delays are frequent, baggage handling is slow, and consumers are subjected to hidden fees when purchasing their air tickets.
Therefore, we urge that the Government as well as MAVCOM ensure these concerns are addressed first and that facilities of all airports upgraded before considering any increment of the PSC or introducing the MAVCOM fee levy.