Kuala Lumpur, 16 May 2019 - The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is urging the Ministry of Transport Malaysia to urgently review the entry fee charges for excursion bus and tour van for pick up and drop off tourists at KLIA2 effective 1 March 2019, managed by its operator, Segi Astana Sdn. Bhd. appointed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
MATTA President Datuk Tan Kok Liang said, “The imposition of entry fee charges to excursion bus of RM8.00 and tour van of RM4.00 for pick up and drop off tourists at KLIA2 is ripping off transport operators with their so called legal right in a monopolistic situation. Transport operators these days especially the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to sustain in business due to escalating costs in operation and reduced business volume.”
“This is definitely unfair since there are no entry charges for pick up and drop off tourists at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for the first 30 minutes, operated by MAHB on its own. Such differential pricing or profit-centric practices must be clearly justified to avoid exploitation. We have made an appeal to the said company to abolish the entry fee charges and exercise similar practices as in KLIA on 12 February 2019, but no update nor changes has been made.”
“Segi Astana Sdn. Bhd. operates gateway@klia2 including its retail space, multi-storey car park and transportation hub under a 25-year build-operate-transfer concession expiring in 2037 with an option to extend for another 10 years. According to a media report published on 30 January 2019, Segi Astana Sdn. Bhd. credit profile has improved, stemming from higher occupancy rate and improved car park fees collection that have led to stronger cash flow.”
“For the first 9 months of 2018, Segi Astana’s revenue is at RM90.5 million with
86.8% growth occupancy rate for gateway@klia2 and high passenger traffic of 30.3
million at KLIA2 compared with 28.2 million at KLIA. Based on Segi Astana’s
strong financial accounts, is it necessary to collect entry fee charges for pick up and
drop off tourists at KLIA2?”
“It may be your right to impose the charges but is it the right thing to do? It is perhaps
timely to question the business ethics behind the charges for pick up and drop off
tourists at KLIA2. MATTA is looking forward for the Ministry of Transport to
address and revert on the monopolistic decision taken by Segi Astana Sdn. Bhd.”
concluded Tan.
DATUK TAN KOK LIANG
President MATTA
Term 2017 – 2019