SEPANG : Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) is expecting a surge of over 200,000 people at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and klia2, in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
KLIA Operations Division head Mohd Arif Jaafar said about 50 per cent of the traffic would comprise tourists from China.
He said police would help MAHB ensure smooth flow of tourist arrivals from domestic and international destinations.
"Police will help MAHB in terms of controlling the traffic flow as we don’t want traffic congestion to start forming by those who park at the road shoulder or stop to drop or pick up passengers.
"During the peak period, more than 55 vehicles will pass through the terminal area every minute. If we don't have the police assistance, things can get out of hand and cause passengers problems,” he said at a press conference on the aiport authority's Chinese New Year preparations.
Also present was KLIA police chief Assistant Commissioner Zulkifli Adamsah.
In anticipation of the traffic congestion, Arif said MAHB had provided 30-minute free parking facility at the long-term parking area near the KLIA building..
Aside from traffic duty, Zulkifli said police would also check on theft and scam activities inside the terminals.
"We have detected several syndicates actively preying on the public at the airport. One of the modus operandi is to scam victims is by calling up their targets, informing them that the items they are bringing in have been held up by the Customs Department.
"In order to settle the customs issue, the syndicate members tell their victims that they have to pay up and bank in their payment into certain accounts," he said.
Zulkifli said police had also mounted cameras to catch those speeding and parking their vehicles along the roadside.
"The cameras will be placed along the stretch from the KLIA toll to the terminal.
"The actions of those who illegallly park their vehicles will give a poor image about Malaysia, especially among tourists, as if we don't have any law here," he said.