KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourist Guide Association (STGA) president Grace Leong has refuted police’s claim that tourist bus drivers are causing the traffic congestion at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).
Grace, in a statement in response to city police chief ACP M Chandra’s allegation, described the accusation as ‘nonsense’.
“With regard to the recent accusation that tour coaches were causing the congestion (at KKIA), we, as tourist guides, think that statement is absolutely nonsense,” she said.
Grace said as front liners of the tourism industry who are at the airport very often, STGA members have observed several things among which were the increasing numbers of illegal ‘white vans’ and cars fetching or sending tourists to the airport.
She also pointed out that AirAsia’s relocation to Terminal One has contributed to more traffic chaos and stressed that Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) and the traffic police should have been prepared for that.
“There should be areas assigned to licensed tour coaches/vans for the smooth and easy tourists’ embarkation as well as disembarkation. Although presently there is a dedicated coach parking area, but due to the charges imposed, many of the coaches refused to utilize it.
“We believe the MAB, traffic police, MATTA, Sabah Tourism Federation (STF), and Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) should seriously discuss this issue immediately to resolve the congestion and not just point fingers and blame others!” she said.
Grace added that STGA members being the front-liners at the airport everyday, what they see may be different from what was reported.
She also provided some pictures taken at KKIA on Friday night showing the traffic congestion there. When forwarding the pictures, Grace commented, “Private cars took over the tour coaches’ parking zone!”
“Please take note, the pictures were taken last night from 8.30 pm – 10.30 pm. I was there myself and I did not see any traffic police around to ease the chaotic situation.” she claimed.
Last week, Chandra said that police woukld hold a meeting with MAB and Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) to discuss the traffic congestion allegedly caused by tourist bus drivers at the KKIA. He said that steps must be taken to address the issue after police received several complaints from the public on the congestion at KKIA caused by tourist bus drivers.