KUALA LUMPUR – A coalition of Malaysia’s p-hailing and e-hailing driver associations has criticised the imposition of charges at the departure and arrival lanes of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2, calling the move unreasonable and burdensome for both drivers and passengers.
The Malaysian P-Hailing Riders Association and the E-Hailing Drivers Community Malaysia questioned the ongoing trial of the Vehicle Access Management System (VAMS) by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), warning that the scheme was causing inconvenience.
“The question is, has this system, currently being tested and set to be enforced, been approved by the Ministry of Transport? Are KLIA passengers and e-hailing drivers being treated as test subjects to our detriment?” the groups said in a statement.
They added that flaws in the system had already resulted in longer waiting times for passenger pick-ups, while complaints had been raised about poor ventilation and hot conditions at the Terminal 2 waiting area, which they said risked leaving a negative impression on visitors, particularly tourists.
The associations noted that MAHB had already implemented a similar system at Terminal 1, while Terminal 2 drivers were charged RM2 per entry at the designated pick-up point. Some operators, including Grab Malaysia, have reimbursed drivers for the fee.
However, the coalition warned that MAHB should not cite congestion at the departure and arrival lanes as a justification for imposing further charges, pointing out that factors such as waiting for parking, assisting elderly passengers, and handling luggage must be taken into account.
They expressed concern over the proposed RM100 penalty for drivers who exceed the allocated time limit.
“During peak hours, e-hailing drivers need more time to drop off passengers, while travellers require extra minutes to manage their baggage or queue at the entrance. Imagine if a driver exceeds 10 minutes and the passenger has already entered the departure hall – the driver would be forced to bear the loss under MAHB’s approach,” the statement read.
The groups urged the Ministry of Transport to work with traffic enforcement agencies to manage congestion, instead of adopting what they described as a “one-size-fits-all” solution that would penalise drivers and passengers alike.
MAHB said in a recent statement that the trial period at Terminal 1 – covering Level 5 for departures and Level 3 for arrivals – would run from September 1 until November 30. — September 4, 2024