THE increase in passenger service charges or PSC for international flights from KLIA terminals 1 and 2 to Asean countries from June 1 is an additional burden for the rakyat who already have to endure new taxes.
"As countries across the globe strive to develop the tourism industry and attract more tourists to increase revenue, Malaysia performs the opposite and raises the cost for passengers and people who need to use aviation services.
"Not only does this move discourage air travellers, it also compounds the load on the rakyat," said MCA vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.
He called on Transport Minister Anthony Look to intervene and immediately halt all measures that have caused the expenses of domestic and international travellers to increase.
"Was this move to increase the PSC and terminal transfer fees approved by you (Loke)? If yes, this reveals that the Transport Minister is ignorant of the hardships which the rakyat is facing.
"In the current situation where the prices of goods and essentials and daily living costs escalate, not only has the Ministry and Mavcom failed to show consideration for the public, they have also further amplified the burdens which the rakyat shoulder," Tan said in a statement.
Given the current economic slowdown, he said the government should strive to lessen the rakyat’s burden, rather than look for ways to dig funds from the public.
Such methods are downright disappointing, he stressed.
In a statement, Mavcom said international departures from KLIA will now be subject to a PSC of RM73, while those from klia2 will incur a charge of RM50.
Currently, the PSC for flights to Asean countries is priced at RM35, regardless of whether passengers depart from KLIA Terminals 1 or 2.
The revised rates in June would see the charges standardised for flights outside Asean nations.
It added that the updated rates incorporate a new “transfer PSC” for passengers transiting through a Malaysian airport.
Domestic passengers will be charged RM7 for transferring through any Malaysian airport, while international passengers will be charged RM42 for transferring through KLIA Terminal 1 and RM29 through Terminal 2 or other airports.
However, Mavcom has maintained the domestic departure PSC at RM11 for all airports, except for Senai International Airport.
"There are no direct flights connecting East Malaysia and Penang, Peninsular Malaysia, and residents from Sabah and Sarawak who intend to fly to Penang have to transit through Kuala Lumpur.
"These passengers would be required to pay an additional domestic flight transfer fee of RM7. For East Malaysians who travel frequently between these two destinations, the additional transfer fee becomes an unnecessary added burden and is thus unjust to them," added Tan. – The Vibes, March 14, 2024
