Some of you may have visited Malaysia and some contemplating your first visit to this tropical country. Malaysia possesses stunning tourist sights, including, to list but a few the natural, architectural and cultural. It is fewer, at time of writing, than 30 days, before the start of Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
Speaking as a local who has travelled to other South East Asian countries. Malaysia does have its fair share of problems, which could be perceived as one of those teambuilding obstacle course(s). Here's a few highlights from observations and also feedbacks from TA-MYR and TA-KL forums posted by many TA forum users, which it is hope allows one in managing expectations though knowing abit of the delights that await at Malaysia. Compared to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, the tourist information system is not so well developed. Quite often when making an inquiry at Tourist Information one is presented with the standard brochures and no additional information but always found them friendly.
It is hoped that with impending- Visit Malaysia Year 2007, the process of entering this country and getting to a hotel should be addressed to make it not unbearably stressful.
1) Malaysian Airlines (MH) - Many would have read or been informed, but to those uninitiated, MH being in the red, had to embark on a business turnaround plan (BTR)--and a chieftain had through several measures "piloted" the national airline back to profitability. While a previous writer says that MH's penny-pinching ways are showing its signs and may have some passengers adopting a "Fly MH only as last option" stance. The writer gave the following examples of MH's penny-pinching ways, are two recent events read from a local press. Oct.25, 2006:- MH's flight to KL from BKK's Suvarnabhumi airport developed a problem, and passengers had to disembark, and waited for almost three hours before being informed that they would be taken to a nearby hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. During that three hours wait, no food or drinks were offered by MH to the passengers, and it had passed dinner time. This is in sharp contrast to Air China (yes, Air China), on its Shanghai-Beijing flight on Nov.18, 2006, when the flight was delayed by two hours, within 10 minutes, Air China ground staff came around to provide food boxes and drinks for all passengers. The previous writer may not been quite fair as most airlines are very responsive when on HOME GROUND. It is more difficult to make arrangements when in a foreign place.
Another area, which is found non-existent in MH, is the announcement of the baggage carousel number where passengers can retrieve their luggage and/or the gate numbers for transiting passengers for connecting flights. On few flights on CX, SQ, an air hostess, or should they be called, (flight attendant), makes this informative useful announcement.
2) Stolen Items from Checked-In Luggage
Malaysian Airline employees have been found to steal items from checked in luggages ranging from cash, electronics, to new clothing. Complaints of stolen items are so commonplace that many regular travelers on the Airline do not check in items that may have any perceived value. Reporting such crimes is difficult and not usually taken very seriously as the employees themselves may be part of the scam.
Also, travelers are often not aware of the stolen items as the thieves/Airline employees are able to take time picking locks, unpacking clothes, taking the desired valuables, and then repacking the luggage so that it seems untampered with, while the owner awaits his/her luggage at baggage claim. By the time the traveler notices the items are stolen, they are often in their hotel room, far from the airport and unable to act quickly to report the incident.
3) LCCT Terminal
The ratio of seat vs passengers at all gates is insufficient to cater for passenger loads.
Seats provided for passengers at any gate should cater for passenger load.Most of the time passengers are force to stand due to lack of seat , you can also find some passengers sitting on the floor awaiting boarding.
While air port tax is been collected but passengers are getting a very raw deal from the airport authority.
4) Late Luggage Collection
Arrivals visitors with checked in luggage who are not cleared fast enough at the immigration will have their luggage put aside near the belt conveyers.There are no temporary signage or info on these luggages from which flight it originated, making it difficult to track the dumped luggage.
5) Immigration
Many airports have lanes for their returning nationals, similarly a case in point of KLIA, where Malaysian nationals can breeze through the autogates In few flights when returning to KL, unacceptably long waits had been observed for non-Malaysians lanes. As some counters were unmanned, and no sign of these Immigration officials opening up more counters to relieve the long queues. Is there a correlation of immigration officials duty rooster to that of number and size of planes landing or doing such is beyond their capability or incurring overtime to MAB.
The most important issue that needs to be resolved is the refusal of taxi drivers in Malaysia to use meters and their high tendency to overcharge. This is about not using meters, NOT about using meters then using a longer route. (In TA Malaysia Inside Page, there is a write up about giving more information about KL taxis).
And not touching the iceberg of those touts harrasing visitors in KLIA, who have not bought the taxi coupon, which sadly is also a monopolistic business--it is not open for all. Hope, with permission borrowed from a local press headline--will it be Visit Malaysia LAST???
To quote the pretious writer "Calling it off, is what a Dutch based wholesaler hypermarket-"Makro" decided to do, and also British retailing giant-"Debenhams",and even Richard Branson's "Virgin Vie" outlets, and now Body Shop franchise is also up for sale. And when taking into account the nos of Marks and Spencer outlets in little city state of Singapore, compared to only two nos in KL (Suria KLCC & 1Utama), and it is only now Tony Romans finally reached Malaysia's shores, when it has been operating for upteenth years in Suntec Singapore." The writer adds "These investors do know something...and in fact a TA forum user is knowledgeable of the rubberised Malaysian time."
Not sure why Makro is closing but you can get goods at the same or lower price at either Giant or Carrefour hypermarkets, and no need to buy in bulk at the last two places.
You may have heard of the KLIA Express, where for RM35.00(one way) can take you in less than 30minutes to KL Sentral; but unless one is checking into KL Hilton or Le Meridien, there is the taxi to dealt with to get to your other hotel(s), more so with luggages-the monorail or LRT is out of the question. So the company behind KLIA Express-ERL, have come out with their KLIA VIP Service (Flying porter service). For a fee of RM100.00,and if you are staying in Westin, Regent, PArk Royal, Impiana KLCC, JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton,a passenger arriving in KLIA will be paged and greeted by ERL ambassador upon arrival at the Baggage Reclaim Hall (also is KLIA Express ticket booth), assisted with baggage, and escorted all the way onboard the KLIA Express to KL Sentral by the "flying porter" service and transferred to these hotesl in a limousine. Of course as a regular user of the KLIA express, avoid the taxi problem by taking the LRT service to PJ. For those who wish to avoid the taxi hassle just take either the LRT or Monorail or the public bus service.
6) Licensed Taxi Counter
Beware of the following tricks played by counter staff: All taxis are licensed to carry 4 passengers .At the taxi counter ,when you enquired for budget taxi.The normal reply would be.(a) How many passengers are there:If the answer is four,you will be prompt to take a premier taxi at a higher rate .Always insist that :You only want a budget taxi;
(b)Another trick:There is a very long waiting list for budget taxi:you will be encouraged be book a premier taxi at a higher rate:Do not accept this excuses ,still insist you want a budget taxi,cos there are more budget taxis than premier taxi at all time.
Unlicensed taxis: At the lobby of the KLIA you may be approached by well dressed and educated gentlemen offering taxi services. Do not take their services because the rate upon arrival could be much higher than the official rate. Use the taxi services from the airport counters. Two types of taxis are offered:luxury or budget, your choice.
Areas Needing Improvement
- No system to ensure that items in checked-in luggage are secure
- Cleaniness of public toilets and wet toilet floor at airports
- Image of taxi services urgently needed improvement :nagging issuse of not using meter to date still unresolved.
- Lack of detailed tourist information .
- Lacks of proper road sign at most major junctions or with signboard place very close near the junction with no time for action,by the time you see the signboard you have overshot the exit????
- Buses services and information need to be improved.
