Another poor attempt at spinning!

Updated on 18-11-2011: YB Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Minister of Transport, said yesterday that the Cabinet had approved the increase in charges in February 2009 and the delay in imposing the new rates had caused the tax payers RM180 millions a year in subsidizing international travelers. There had been a lot of other increases done by the airlines quietly and nobody is making noise, said the Minister in respond to Dr Spinner’s dissatisfaction through the social media. Read HERE for the increases in AirAsia’s hidden charges. The Government should stop entertaining private airlines’ business model just for them to make profits at the expense of tax payers.  

Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ (Tony) contention is that the RM7.oo increase is too much to pay for LCCT which he likens to an “airconditioned horse stable” on Twitter.   The hike also affect travelers and he claimed that it was unjustified and that it would affect his business. He said on Twitter. “…RM25 for services in LCCT? What a rip off! It’s an air-conditioned horse stable!’ He said on his Faebook, “AirAsia has been fighting to make them cheaper for common man. Airport taxes are paid by Malaysians and passengers. The money doesn’t go to AirAsia but MAHB.”

Read HERE for full Star report. The Star has been publishing positive news of Tony, AirAsia Bhd and AA X Sdn Bhd and of late even messages via Twitter by Tony and En Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X Sdn Bhd were of interest to the Star.

Before Malaysians and the Government being taken in by the Dr Spinner, your truly would like to show that KLIA is still one of the lowest passenger service charges (PSC)  in the region.

PSC Charges for international passenger at LCCT for 2011

• LCCT               RM32       (with the increment of RM7)

• Singapore       RM44.64  (S$18) @RM2.47 rate

PSC Charges for international passenger except LCCT for 2011

• KLIA                RM65

• Singapore       RM68

• Hong Kong     RM73

• Jakarta           RM54

• Bangkok         RM79

• Heathrow      45 Pounds (RM252) plus Air      Passenger Duty 85 Pounds (RM440) =                         RM692

Unfortunately, Dr Spinner didn’t complain or protest against the airport authority in foreign countries regarding the “excessive” PSC and the mandatory usage of aerobridge. Dr Spinner’s outfits obediently used the aerobridge in all foreign airports.  But in Malaysia Dr Spinner refuses to use the aerobridge claiming that aerobridge does not fit into his business model.  Safety and convenience to all passengers especially parents with infants, elderly, disabled and children.

It is strange that of late Dr Spinner is very bold in taking on MAB and Ministry of Transport i.e. the Government but not during the Badawi’s Government.

The facts speak for itself!  Hopefully the Ministry of Transport will take note of the above facts and don’t waste time with the verbiage of Dr Spinner. MAB and the Ministry of Transport should just proceed with the new regulation that it is mandatory for all airlines to use aerobridge. Let see whether Dr Spinner and his outfits dare to defy.

Further, the Dr Spinner has admitted that “Airport Taxes are paid by passengers and the money doesn’t go to AirAsia but MAHB”.  Since this was the case, why did the Dr Spinner’s outfits keep the Airport taxes totaling more than RM110 million for so many years and only paid to MAB after the matter was brought up in Parliament by your truly. Read HERE.

AirAsia was given a discount of about 25% – 30% during the Badawi’s Administration when it should have been charged with interest. Further, whatever discount given by the Badawi’s Administration should have been refunded to the passengers and not to Dr Spinner’s outfits!

Of course, according to the Dr Spinner, he and/or his outfits got little help from Badawi’s Administration but more from Tun Mahathir and Najib’s Administration! The facts speak for itself!

It was also confirmed in Parliament by the current Deputy Minister of Transport recently that AirAsia Bhd and AirAsia X Sdn Bhd are still holding on the Airport taxes for un-travelled passengers totaling RM6.895 millions. Read HERE.

Going by the Dr Spinner’s statement above, the said sum does not belong to AirAsia.  Therefore, it should been refunded to the passengers automatically since they have not traveled and there was no Airport taxes involved. Under its famous business model, AirAsia forfeited all fare paid. If the Airport taxes have not been refunded, the Dr Spinner’s outfits are duty bound to pay over the RM6.895 millions to MAHB. If there was no claim for the Airport taxes then MAHB will have to pay to Bank Negara under the Unclaimed Money Act.

For related reports, read HERE, HERE & HERE (the spinning of the Dr Spinner).

Yours truly hopes that Tan Sri Azman Mother and his ex-business partner from BinaFikir Sdn Bhd, En Mohammed Rashdan Yusof (Deputy CEO of MAS), Tan Sri Md Nor Md Yusof (Chairman and ex-MD of MAS), Datuk Azman Yahya (director of MAS, AirAsia, Khazanah Holding Bhd and also Scomi’s director), Datuk Krishnan Tan (director of MAS & ex-IJM director), Datuk Rahana (director of MAS & Astro) and Tan Sri  Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah will take note of the above.

I will not be surprised if Dr Spinner’s good friends like Tan Sri Azman Mokthar, En Mohammed Rashdan Yusof, Tan Sri Md Nor Md Yusof and YB Tan Sri Nor Mohamad Yacop, the former extremely powerful Minister of Finance II detest his innate spinning of facts to suit his objectives.

Spinning and spinning will not get you anywhere Tony but your head will definitely end up spinning!