Statement
by Lim Kit Siang - Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Tanjong
in Petaling Jaya
on Tuesday, 21 January 1997

Pointless for MAS to set a target of zero delays when services are undergoing serious all-round deterioration

There is an urgent need for MAS to buck up its services, which is suffering serious all-round deterioration.

Commenting on reports on MAS’ declining standards, MAS Chairman, Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli said some of the issues raised were not new and that the airline would take immediate action to rectify problems within the organisation and improve service.

In the case of avoidable delays, he said MAS has set itself a target of zero delays.

At a time of serious deterioration of MAS services, it is pointless for Tajuddin Ramli to be talking about MAS setting a target of zero delays.

The flight MH 1137 from Penang to Kuala Lumpur this morning is a good illustration. The plane left Penang at 8.50 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Subang at 9.35 a.m.

MH 1137 arrived in Subang punctually at 9.35 a.m., but the passengers were trapped inside the aircraft for more than half an hour because the parking bay assigned to it at Terminal One was not available as it was still occupied by another aircraft.

When passengers were finally ferried to Terminal 3, it was 10.15 a.m., and passengers with stored cargo had to wait for another 10 minutes before they could leave the airport terminal - 10.25 a.m. It took 45 minutes to fly from Penang to Kuala Lumpur but 50 minutes to disembark from the aircraft at the Subang Airport!

This is atrocious service. The travelling public are not asking for zero delay but are definitely entitled to better service than MH 1137 this morning.

(21/1/97)