KOTA KINABALU: There is a growing public concern with the air pollution outside the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) terminal recently.
Traveller Joannie Jomitol said there were bus drivers who kept the engines running while waiting for passengers outside the airport terminal.
He said the exhaust fumes from the buses was to blame for the pollution.
“There are special areas for smokers, but what about buses parked outside with the engines running while waiting for passengers?
“Isn’t that smoke as well?” he posted on his Twitter account.
His tweet has caught the attention of state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, who forwarded it to Malaysia Airports’ Twitter account.
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KKIA senior airport manager Sunif Naiman said the airport had raised the issue to relevant organisations, including tour bus operators, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry and Tourism Malaysia.
He said the airport had allocated dedicated parking area for tour buses and vans at the southern parking area.
“Malaysia Airports is very concerned about any source of air pollution at its airports.
“We need full cooperation from tour bus and van operators to park at the dedicated parking area. They must also to turn off their engines while waiting for passengers.”
He said the management would also highlight the issue to the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry in a meeting.