Sabah does not deserve this, MAB!
Published on: Sunday, July 10, 2022
By: Datuk John Lo
Text Size:
KKIA is, I am sure you also know, is one of your largest revenue sources. From Sabah’s perspective, KKIA is extremely important to our economy. Tourism has given more than RM8 billion in receipt, a major GDP contributor of Malaysia, a main source of employment for Sabah which is suffering from highest unemployment. Sabah’s success in tourism is despite of KKIA’s appalling condition.
This negligence has been going for a long time. There was a brief period of improvement when Tan Sri Chong, as CM, undertook a surprise inspection. Thereafter, many Sabah leaders have voiced the problems. MAB has simply closed its ears to their complains, has closed its eyes to its disrepairs and dirtiness but has happily been collecting tens of millions in airport taxes. I understand that one Sabah senior official again reminded MAB management twice recently. Not surprising, he too, has been ignored.
Typical dirty toilets with rusty parts. Note the stains on the floor.
Confusing signage. Arrow should point downwards to go down to the Immigration Hall for arriving passengers. This arrow is directing visitors to a wall.
One of many malfunctional flight information screens.
Many bulbs have fused, while all the clocks are not functioning.
One of the many rusty doors.
KKIA is no longer an asset. It has become an embarrassment for Sabah and for Malaysia.
Two questions to you:
[a] Does MAB require our CM to conduct another inspection to force MAB to improve?
[b] Does it make sense to you to waste away one of MAB’s most valuable assets like KKIA.
Using KKIA is not cheap. My return airfare=RM481.74 but the taxes I paid was RM416.04. Hence, I have resorted to write this open letter to you.
Any reasons for MAB to neglect KKIA?
It is puzzling how the MAB Board, with you as Chairman, can continue to allow KKIA to sink to this level of unkemptness, in this state of shabbiness. What sort of a government GLC are you guys running? Why have you allowed your management to become dysfunctional to this degree of hopeless state of affairs for so long? Are all the MAB top-guns slumbering on the job? Are you and the MAB Board proud of KKIA? When was the last time you and the board members have undertaken an inspection of KKIA?
KKIA’s dreadful conditions in carpark, check-in area, landscape and its surround.
Some feedback for you.
[a] There are potholes in the KKIA’s carpark.
[b] Flower beds and trees are badly looked after, many of them are half dead. When was the last time the plants were fed with fertilizers?
[c] Very poor and chaotic traffic management, worst during peak periods.
[d] Can be seen are rubbish and garbage outside the departure/arrival areas.
[e] The overall lighting ambience is barely above the level of a mortuary.
[f] Insufficient trolleys for departing passengers. Passengers are forced to run around looking for one. Many of the trolleys are broken, not in working order. Also, insufficient trolleys for incoming passengers when 2 flights arrive at the same time.
[g] KKIA looks old and tired. Do you have budget for an extensive renovation for KKIA? When was the last renovation for KKIA? High time you give KKIA an extensive refit and update its facilities. It is common practice for high usage public facilities [including hotels] to undergo a major renovation and upgrade consistently.
[h] Little or no thoughts on the positioning and overall design of outlets. Presentation is low quality, more like a “tamu ground”.
On 29th June 2022, I left for Singapore by Scoot in the evening. I wish to highlight some issues inside the international departure area which most foreign tourists use.
Dirty, offensive stale smoke in Smoking Room.
This was the terrible state in the smoking room. The glass of 1 door is broken. The doors were open, probably because the smoke extractor was not working. Please check. Rubbish and cigarette butts littered all over. The room stunk of stale smoke. The room was hazy with smoke as there were 6 airport officials puffing away. Dreadful conditions.
Poor lighting. KKIA could almost become a night club.
The lighting in departure hall was the same as the check in area, dim to the point of being uncomfortable and unwelcoming. A bit darker, the whole of KKIA could have become a night spot. Many bulbs have fused. I asked a lady staff who said that this has been going on for a long time. I counted the non-functioning lights on the ceiling. Half way through, it was more than 30. I gave up.
Presumably, the total number could be more than 50. Many signages also did not have lights. Is it just management failure or the MAB Board has ordered a reduction of lights to save cost?
Toilets – stink, stink, stink. All the toilets stink. Photos can’t capture the essence of “Christine Dior” perfume in KKIA. It is a unique KKIA experience that the MAB Board should experience.
All the toilets in the international departure area stunk, pieces of used papers and stains were on the floor. The floor near to the urinals was wet with “you know what”. The sink area was also wet. All the soap dispensers were empty. The metal pieces were all rusty. You should check on the toilet seats for yourself.
TV screen for flight information.
Either the TV screens were black out or on but blank on flight details.
All clocks were not working.
The clocks were not showing international times of various cities. All have been dead, for how long, nobody knows.
Please do the needful as any responsible Board of Directors should do.
Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, these are only some serious issues in the “front of the house” that are obvious to an amateur like me. I dread to think what an expert can find especially at the “back of the house” of KKIA. Normally, it is a lot worse. KKIA is in a systemic failure. The MAB Board is duty bound to prevent KKIA from deteriorating further as KKIA is the 2nd busiest gateway to Malaysia.
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer Datuk John Lo and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.
- If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
ADVERTISEMENT
