Palestinian stuck at KLIA for more than 50 days

[Naim 6]

So we have one also, right here at KLIA.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/13/A-man-who-calls-KLIA-his-home-22yearold-Palestinian-stuck-at-airport-for-more-than-50-days.aspx

Edited July 13, 2013 by Naim

[Mushrif A 3]

So we have one also, right here at KLIA.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/13/A-man-who-calls-KLIA-his-home-22yearold-Palestinian-stuck-at-airport-for-more-than-50-days.aspx

 

Life almost imitating art....

[leon t 0]

and surprising that KLIA officials reported that they are not AWARE???? - after 50 days????

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Will they not aware after 50 minutes if there are spotter near KLIA compound ?

[Newitt 0]

and surprising that KLIA officials reported that they are not AWARE???? - after 50 days????

Talk about sleeping on the job, won't be long before a guy is found dead in an airplane's wheel well

[Rozhan 0]

Some years ago an elderly man was stark naked roaming in the checkin counters at the MTB. MAHB security was clueless in handling the situation and was just following the man in stead of trying to drape him with a towel or something. He walked around for at least a few minutes. I was not able to know the outcome as was rushing to the gates. I did see many people with their jaws drop!

[alberttky 0]

 

MAHB shocked to hear of terminal ‘squatter’

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airport Hold­­­­­­­ings Bhd (MAHB), which has con­­­­trol over the airport authority, was shocked to learn that a man has been living in the terminal for over 50 days.

“We know nothing about this,” MAHB senior general manager of ope­­­­­rations Datuk Azmi Murad said when asked how the man had managed to live there for nearly two months unnoticed by airport officials.

Acknowledging that the security of the airport terminal was under the authority of MAHB, he said the airline which brought the man into the country should have alerted them or the Immigration Department about the man.

“If a passenger cannot enter the country, the airline must be responsible and alert us.

“He should have immediately been deported back to the last port of embarkation,” he said, adding that this was common practice when such situations occurred. Ironically, Ahmed Kanan had been deported back from Turkey to Kuala Lumpur, his last port of embarkation.

Azmi said there was no guideline or ruling on how long a passenger could “stay” in the terminal.

“On our side, we require airlines to move their passengers as soon as they can,” he said.

Azmi said that while there had been cases of passengers stuck in the terminals of Malaysian airports before, he was not aware of anyone having been stuck for so long.

Most of those caught in such situations, he said, did not have the required documentation.

When this happens, MAHB would get in touch with the relevant embassies, which would help resolve the problem.

“If we hear of a person stuck in the terminal, we immediately alert the relevant embassy. As for this case, 50 days – that is very long. As far as I know, there has not been anyone who has stayed in a terminal for so long without being noticed.”

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/13/MAHB-shocked-to-hear-of-terminal-squatter.aspx

[Mike P 0]

Sounds like The Terminal.

[Cire 0]

Even though there is no security threat (not that it will not ..)in KLIA, such oversight is extremely embarrassing to the authorities. It appears that there is no coordination at all between the Customs, Airlines, and MAHB.

 

Again, too complacent.

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

While none of the 10,000 member of MAHB staff and immigration staff at KLIA are aware of Ahmad Kanan's condition, I would like to give a hat's off to the journalists (T Selva, P Aruna and Rashita A Hamid) for this breaking news and they even get to photograph Ahmed sleeping, bathing (!) and updating his Facebook profile too whilst the authorities have no clue whatsoever.

 

Although the article concludes that there is so much left to be desired for our authorities, we could be proud of still having a lot of kind and helpful citizen, all of whom are credited by Ahmed in the article (the fast food worker who gives him food, the cleaner who washes his clothes at home, the passing-by travellers who give him pocket money etc).

 

Being a pro-Palestine and image concern country, I think Ahmed can seek refuge in Malaysia easily. Helps will come in like a downpour tomorrow (or on Monday perhaps).

[Suzanne Goh 0]

They've let him in on humanitarian grounds:

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/14/Happy-ending-for-Ahmed-Terminal-Mans-ordeal-over-as-he-is-allowed-to-reenter-Msia.aspx?utm_source=tsol&utm_medium=http%3a%2f%2fwww.thestar.com.my%2fNews%2fNation%2f2013%2f07%2f14%2fHow-many-cows-can-you-fit-in-a-Wira.aspx&utm_term=2&utm_content=Exclusive%3a+Ahmed%27s+ordeal+over+as+he+is+allowed+to+re-enter+Malaysia&utm_campaign=mostviewed

[Mohd Azizul Ramli 2]

Told ya.

[Suzanne Goh 0]

Apparently he wasn't the only one....

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/14/Seven-more-left-in-the-lurch-in-KLIA-MAHB-comes-to-aid-of-stranded-people.aspx

[Naim 6]

This guy got blacklisted and they let him in again? I bet he would just disappear.

[alberttky 0]

Malaysia Boleh.

[David.W 0]

I think if the Media (The Star) did not approach him he would still be living in the transit area. MAHB has already said they let him in due to media pressure.

[Cire 0]

Now MAHB GM says tougher measures will be taken to spruce up securities at transit area. Well, he have better do something about it because his lack of management of the area have caused considerable embarrassement to the establishment and Malaysia as a whole and not to measure putting some risk to travellers transiting that area. I wondered what was discussed in their monthly or perhaps weekly meetings with the airport securities, maintenance crew, Customs, airport workers and retails representatives? None of them highlighted such issues or it was highlighted but our poor GM was too busy to attend the meetings thus the issue was let slide..?

[leon t 0]

its just all about lax security and more so lax attitude or "tidak apa" attitude amongst the staff in MAHB and the security force numbering morethan 10,000 people - as it takes 50 days to finally take action bec of being reported.

[Mohd. Helmi 0]

Not good. Should have deported him back. Now it's an incentive for all those overstayers and illegals to pull the same act. We need to be stricter with immigration issues.

[alberttky 0]

MAHB: Carriers have to house and feed stranded passengers from now on

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) will hold airlines that bring in problematic passengers responsible for their safety and welfare.

MAHB senior general manager (operations) Datuk Azmi Murad said all carriers using Malaysia’s airports had been informed of the new ruling.

It comes into effect immediately.

He said if the airlines flew in passengers with improper travel documents, they would be held accountable and not the airport authority.

“We are concerned with recent cases of stranded foreigners making the KLIA transit area their temporary home indefinitely without any particular agency taking responsibility,” he said.

“After discussions, airlines representatives agreed that they will take care of stranded passengers as they were responsible for bringing them into the airport.”

Azmi said the airlines would have to house and provide meals to stranded passengers until they leave.

He said that although the airlines had accepted the ruling, they were concerned with the additional cost and the time it would take to handle complex cases.

Citing the case of Syrian national Khaled Ali and his family of five who were stranded at the KLIA transit area since July 3, Azmi said an anonymous well-wisher checked them into the airport transit hotel and paid their bills on humanitarian grounds.

He said MAHB provided medical care to Khaled’s son Anas, who is unable to talk and walk, with the assistance of the Immigration Department.

On the case of another passenger, Palestinian Mohammed Abdulabbad, who has been staying in the transit lounge since July 1, Azmi said Malaysia Airlines was providing him meal vouchers daily because the carrier had flown him in from Jakarta.

Azmi said the airlines would be burdened financially if there were complications in obtaining travel documents for stranded passengers, as was in the case of another Palestinian, Ahmed Kanan, who stayed in the transit area for over 50 days before being allowed entry into the country.

“A system must be in place so that airlines take full responsibility for their passengers,” he said.

“As the airport authority, MAHB will help resolve such cases although our priority is safety and security of the airport, airlines and travellers.”

Azmi urged all airlines to thoroughly check the travel documents of passengers and their passports’ validity as many countries required them to be effective for at least six months from the date of departure.

“They should assist passengers on the rules, restrictions, passport validity and also visa requirements before accepting them on flights,” he added.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/22/Airlines-must-take-full-responsibility-MAHB-Carriers-have-to-house-and-feed-stranded-passengers-fro.aspx

[Cire 0]

When Malaysia practices Visa on arrival, what happen then? What happen to those that are denied visa? Who's responsibilities to take care of the stranded passengers? The airline would not have know whether its passengers are qualified for visa or not.. Not sure how it works but I think VOA is very risky indeed for both airlines and passengers.