The narrow gap leaves drivers scrambling to avoid penalties that cut into their earnings
KUALA LUMPUR: Every time his phone pings with a booking to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), e-hailing driver Mohd Radhi Mohd Amir feels his heart sink a little.
For the 29-year-old from Cheras, a trip to the airport no longer means just navigating traffic or finding passengers.
Instead, it has become a race against the clock.
Under the Vehicle Access Management System (VAMS) implemented at KLIA, drivers are given a 10-minute grace period to pick up or drop off passengers before penalties kick in.
For Mohd Radhi, those 10 minutes often feel endless.
“It feels like the longest 10 minutes of my life. Sometimes passengers cannot find the pickup lane because it is located on a different level for arrival hall.
“Some are elderly, some travelling with children or carrying many bags, so naturally they take longer.
“While they are trying to find us, we are watching the clock and worrying about getting fined,” he said when met yesterday.
If he cancels the booking to avoid exceeding the time limit, Mohd Radhi said his driver star rating suffers, affecting his chances of getting future customers.
Although he understands the need to reduce congestion at the airport, Mohd Radhi said the penalty system feels harsh for drivers already struggling with rising costs.
“We are already paying for petrol, tolls and commissions to app operators. Even a RM10 penalty makes a difference to us,” he said.
Personal driver Hafiz Johari, 41, said he never wastes a single minute whenever he sends or picks up his employer, a businessman, at KLIA.
“My boss travels overseas at least twice a month, so the arrival and departure halls have practically become my second home.
“From what I’ve seen, there are times when the VAMS barrier takes a while to lift. That’s why many people end up frustrated,” he said.
Another e-hailing driver, Chong Mei Feng, 35, said some passengers have cancelled rides out of frustration after waiting too long due to congestion linked to the VAMS system.
For drivers like her, every cancelled booking means wasted fuel, wasted time and lost income.
“I come from KL, so after dropping off one passenger at KLIA, I usually hope to get another booking before heading back.
“But sometimes I end up stuck in traffic or waiting too long at the pickup lane. By the time the passenger arrives, both of us are already stressed,” she said.
Chong said misunderstandings over the VAMS penalties have also become a source of tension between drivers and passengers.
“There are passengers who refuse to pay because they think the penalty is the driver’s fault.
“I do not want to argue with customers repeatedly, so I usually advise them to complain directly to the application operator instead,” she added.
Private sector employee Muhammad Nasirruddin Yazid, 39, recalled having to repeatedly book rides because some drivers refused to wait too long at the terminal.
“It is difficult for senior citizens, families with small children and persons with disabilities because they have to walk far just to reach the pickup point,” he said.
Effective Dec 1, 2025, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd introduced VAMS at KLIA to improve traffic flow around the airport.
Drivers exceeding the grace period face charges ranging from RM10 to RM100 depending on how long they remain in the area.
On March 12, MAHB said the system, which was introduced at KLIA T1 last year, recorded a significant reduction in congestion. “Less than 1% of vehicles exceeded the permitted duration, equivalent to about 194 out of 43,000 vehicles daily.
“This improvement has helped maintain smoother traffic flow while ensuring safer traffic operations.”
