PETALING JAYA: Motorists affected by technical disruptions involving the Vehicle Access Management System (VAMS) at KL International Airport (KLIA) are not subjected to penalties, as barriers are immediately switched to open mode while rectification works are carried out, says Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
The airport operator said the safeguard forms part of its standard operating procedures to maintain smooth traffic flow and minimise inconvenience to users during system disruptions.
The clarification follows a letter published in The Star on May 5 titled Flaws in KLIA Vehicle Access Management System must be corrected immediately, in which a reader raised concerns over congestion and barrier malfunction issues at KLIA Terminal 1’s pick-up area.
In the letter, the reader claimed motorists were caught in gridlock after exit barriers allegedly failed to open, causing some drivers to exceed the 10-minute grace period and raising concerns over possible penalties.
MAHB, in its response to the letter, said VAMS is supported by built-in safeguards and fallback procedures designed to protect users and maintain traffic flow during confirmed technical issues.
“Motorists affected during such disruptions are not subjected to penalties, as barriers are immediately placed in open mode as part of standard operating procedures while rectification works are carried out concurrently,” it said in a statement.
MAHB said VAMS was introduced at KLIA to address long-standing kerbside congestion, improve vehicle circulation, enhance operational efficiency and strengthen security compliance in line with the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP).
According to MAHB, the system underwent extensive operational and stress testing before implementation, including a three-month trial at Terminal 1 (T1) and a one-month trial at Terminal 2 (T2).
The company added that it is benchmarking the system against similar traffic management systems implemented at several international airports, including Dubai International Airport, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Manchester Airport and Edmonton International Airport.
MAHB said the 10-minute grace period and corresponding charge structure were established following operational studies, stakeholder engagement sessions and benchmarking exercises.
“The objective is to maintain active circulation at pick-up and drop-off zones while discouraging prolonged waiting, which had previously contributed to congestion at KLIA’s terminal kerbside,” it said.
MAHB said the implementation of the VAMS system has been effective in achieving its objectives at KLIA.
The compliance rate stands at 99.17% across both terminals, resulting in better traffic discipline and smoother vehicle flow at the kerbside areas.
On average, vehicles spend less than four minutes at the kerbside.
The airport also maintains a 15-minute Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) backup system and fast-response teams to ensure traffic and airport operations continue running smoothly during disruptions.
In a separate statement, MAHB said congestion at KLIA Terminal 1 is partly caused by some e-hailing drivers failing to follow the airport’s designated pick-up and drop-off procedures.
Under the agreed procedures between MAHB and e-hailing companies, all e-hailing passenger pick-ups must be conducted exclusively at the designated Level 1 pick-up zones, where VAMS is not enforced.
Drivers using the authorised Level 1 pick-up area are therefore not subject to the 10-minute VAMS limit or related penalties.
MAHB said all departing passengers should only be dropped off at the regular Level 5 departure area.
The airport operator also called on e-hailing drivers to follow designated procedures: drop passengers off at Level 5 and pick them up only at Level 1.
The Star had reported that motorists picking up and dropping off passengers at KLIA terminals are given a 10-minute grace period at the kerbside, with charges ranging from RM10-RM100 for overstaying.
Some motorists have raised concerns that the time limit is too short, particularly during congestion or technical disruptions.
