Mavcom ‘protection money’ well worth paying

I REFER to the recent press statement by the Malaysian Public Transport Users Association or Persatuan Pengguna Pengangkutan Malaysia (4PAM) with regards to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom).

Any frequent traveller in Malaysia will know what kind of response one can expect when complaints are lodged with the airlines. First, you will get the immediate “to impress only” standard reply that your complaint has been received and forwarded to the relevant departments. Believe me – and many would agree – this is the only response you would get unless you follow up, and many times at that. Thus, it was a positive development when Mavcom was set up. But the nagging thought has always been will it not be subservient to its master, namely the government, if it was not independent and depended on the government for funding.