Sunday 8 July 2012

AirAsia airline staff in LCCT fear for their safety


AIRASIA is not happy with the current security measures at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) carparks and wants Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to fulfil their promise of beefing up security.

The Star reported on April 28 (Molest at the carpark) that AirAsia Berhad wanted better security at LCCT after attacks on cabin crew.

In a statement, MAHB said it would work with Pasukan Gerak Am (PGA) and other relevant authorities to ensure the safety of carpark users.


Risky zone: According to Fareh, it is unsafe to park at Zone D at night as it is next to an oil palm estate.
“We have taken measures to install CCTVs at selected locations at the parking zones at LCCT-KLIA. Malaysia Airports’ security personnel, PGA and private security guards are also deployed in the area.”

However, AirAsia Berhad flight operations director Capt Datuk Fareh Ishraf Mazputra felt that to-date, not enough was done to ensure the safety of carpark users.

“Our staff have emailed us that they do not see security guards patrolling every day.



Empty spots: AirAsia hopes that MAHB can allocate more parking bays for its staff members at Zone C which has vacant bays at the time this photo was taken.
“We want more CCTVs — CCTVs with better resolution, better lighting and more parking bays near the terminal to be allocated to our staff members.

“Two hundred parking passes are issued to AirAsia staff for Zone C (one of the parking zones which is nearer to the terminal), we hope that at least 100 more can be issued,” he said.

During a site visit at the carparks, Fareh pointed out to StarMetro that the barb wires were not a deterrent to those who intend to commit crime.


Not good enough: Fareh (in purple) demonstrating how one can cross over the barb wire.
“One could easily climb over or crawl under it. Part of the carpark is fenced up, why wasn’t it fully fenced up?

“There is no dedicated entrance for carpark users who have to use the same entrance for cars, hence putting them at risk,” he said.

He added that Zone D, the furthest zone from the terminal is poorly lit and is next to an oil palm estate.

He said that the parking charges for staff increased 60% last year.


Unsafe: The carparks are poorly lit and AirAsia staff claim there are not enough security personnel to patrol the area.
“As a service provider, MAHB should ensure the safety of carpark users.

“Around 300 of our employees are exposed to safety risks every day,” he said.

Farhana Ahmad Faisal of AirAsia’s flight attendant department said 25% of the flights operate around early mornings or late at nights.

“The crew come as early as 3.30am or finish their shifts between 2am and 3am.

“It is impossible for us to escort each individual to the carpark as there are too many,” she said.

Andi Kalzaidi Zulkefli of AirAsia’s security department said they have to deploy their own security personnel to patrol the carparks.

“They are aviation security guards but they have to patrol the carparks too as there are not enough security guards (deployed by MAHB) to that area,” said Andi.

When contacted, MAHB senior general manager Datuk Azmi Murad, who headed meetings with AirAsia to discuss the issue of increasing security at carparks, said they have taken the necessary measures to ensure the safety of carpark users.

“We have briefed AirAsia about the security measures and both parties have agreed to it.

“We have four guards patrolling from 9pm to 8am and PGA patrols and improved lighting in the area.

“A total of 81 AirAsia female staff members have been transferred from car park D to B which is nearer to the terminal.

“We will also install a total of 54 CCTVs at all the carparks,” he said.

He added, “As for the cases (of attacks on cabin crew), police reports have been made so we should leave it to the police to carry out their investigation.”- (TheStar)

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