PETALING JAYA: KL International Airport (KLIA) is an important gateway for foreign tourists and Malaysia's reputation will suffer when tourists are crammed into shuttle buses "packed like sardines" between the main building and the international terminal, says Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

       The Umno supreme council member took Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to task over the packed shuttle buses as well as the malfunctioning aerotrain in a Facebook post on Saturday (July 15).

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       "The condition of this facility is described as 'first class', but the maintenance is lacking, resembling a 'low-class' standard," he said.

       He also said that when he had left Malaysia for Jeddah on June 17, the aerotrain at KLIA was inoperable and when he returned nearly a month later, it was still unusable.

       "KLIA serves as the main entry for many foreign tourists, but the perception of a developed country diminishes when tourists are crammed into buses like sardines.

       "MAHB is also at fault here. Passengers and tourists must stand in overcrowded buses, carrying their heavy hand luggage. It's unfortunate, especially for the elderly," he said in his post.

       Puad asked Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing to look into the matter.

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       Loke had earlier said one of the two Automated People Mover (APM) or aerotrain services at KLIA would start operating next year.