GEORGE TOWN – Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAB) needs to heed the effects of climate change in managing the country’s airports, travel trade groups said after “shameful” floods at Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas recently.
They urged MAB to ensure construction materials used in airport buildings could withstand forceful water flows, stronger wind speeds, and heavier rainfall.
The country’s airports have to be upgraded to face weather changes and its effects as the inflow of tourists and business travellers is expected to pick up following the lifting of Covid-19 movement restrictions, they added.
The Penang chapter of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ chairman Vergis Mathews said that although Saturday’s flash flood at the Penang airport could be seen as a one-off incident due to the monsoon weather, it was actually not the first time the airport had been affected by floods.
“The drainage system is no longer functioning as effectively as it should be. Surely there is a need to redesign the system to accommodate strong run-off from rainwater,” he told The Vibes.
Besides the airport, Vergis also stressed that there is a need to upgrade the KTM railway station at Butterworth by constructing proper pedestrian links to the Butterworth Sentral complex, which would enable passengers to easily cross over to the island.
“We need a proper pick-up point for passengers disembarking from the KTM electrical trains, especially at the main station in Butterworth.”
Vergis said that as both the airport and the KTM service come under the purview of the federal government, he hoped for better coordination between the state and Putrajaya in addressing the need to upgrade facilities.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ state chapter chairman Tony Goh said ensuring Penang International Airport’s functionality is important as it is the first point of entry for air travellers entering the state.
It is crucial to the image of Penang.
“The floods have been a recurrent issue for which MAB must find a permanent solution,” Goh told The Vibes.
Saturday’s flood at the airport affected its open-air car park and caused its skybridge to temporarily malfunction.
There was also power disruption to parts of the building, while several take-offs and landings were delayed, MAB had said.
Among those affected was travel blogger V. Sivaji, who shared his experience after arriving on an AirAsia flight from Bangkok.
As the skybridge had malfunctioned, he said passengers had to wait for a while before they could disembark from the aircraft.
Other passengers also lamented that amenities at the airport were found wanting with some restrooms left unclean and eateries remained closed, all while experiencing power outages.
Penang Tourism and Creative Economy executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin had taken to Facebook to rue the airport’s poor maintenance, saying it would affect his efforts to promote the state.
“Penang International Airport is our first hospitality image and impression to the world. It is very shameful to see the floods at the airport.
I have been working hard and have so many plans to bring more major international events, more direct flights, and more tourists to Penang. These floods in the airport will definitely affect my efforts to promote Penang and dampen the state’s image,” he said.
There have also been warnings that a mild La Nina weather phenomenon is expected to hit Penang in the fourth quarter of this year.
In recent times, heavier than usual rainfall has also been reported in several states leading to floods, with climate change said to be one of the causes besides overdevelopment and land-clearing.
Eric R. Sinnaya said that climate change is real and no longer theoretical, as its effects had started to affect people’s way of life.
“We hope the airport authorities take the issue seriously and begin making plans to deal with the instances of heavier rain than usual,” he said. – The Vibes, September 26, 2022
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