LETTERS: I WELCOME a proposal by a consortium led by Khazanah and the Employees Provident Fund to take the Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) private. I hope it will materialise.
Those who have used our airports over the years can see the rapid deterioration taking place in one of the most important transportation hubs in the country.
In the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for example, the aerotrain is not working, there are long queues that one often associates with airports in impoverished nations and there are intermittent disruptions to the air-conditioning system.
As a frequent user of KLIA and many other airports in the country, it hurts to see the airport in a state of disrepair.
These are not just anecdotal evidence. In March, KLIA was ranked the 8th worst airport in Asia by Business Financing. That's a sharp dive considering that in 2001, it was ranked the 2nd best airport in the world!
Over the years, there have been all kinds of promises to turn things around but the ranking in Skytrax does not reflect this, while passenger satisfaction continues to plunge.
Obviously, something drastic needs to be done. In this case, foreign expertise might be necessary to turn things around. Part of the consortium taking MAHB private are the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading global infrastructure investor and an experienced airport owner and manager.
Among others, GIP has investments in world-class airports including Sydney Airport, London Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport. All these airports have all showned susbstantial improvements in connectivity in global routes, which is key to improving airports.
The consortium has from the outset announced that it plans to upgrade and modernise MAHB's airport network and operations, enhance passenger service levels, improve airline connectivity and stimulate passenger and freight growth.
Isn't this what the country's airports badly need now? We have no time to lose to turn things around.
Malaysia's air passenger traffic recovery post-pandemic is far behind regional peers based on statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
KLIA recorded 76 per cent of 2019 traffic in 2023 compared with 94 per cent average globally and 86 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region. Our neighbours fared better with 95 per cent for Manila, 86 per cent for Singapore, and 79 per cent for Bangkok.
Our airports need to soar again and the proposal by the consortium to implement the turnaround plan is just what is needed.
I think the government realises the importance of this and the need to act on it now. I am optimistic that this consortium with its mix of expertise, will be able to restore our airports and with it our national pride.
MAK KIM LENG
Subang Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
