Government Appoints Consultant To Resolve Airport Tax Arrears Issue

24 June 2009

KUALA LUMPUR -- The government has appointed a consultant to resolve the issue of airport tax arrears of RM65 million owed by AirAsia Bhd to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government has studied the matter and it would be used as a basis to resolve the problem.

"There is still a gap between AirAsia and MAHB and we have appointed a consultant to find the middle path ... it has been studied now by the government and we will use that as a basis to resolve the problem between them.

"It will be seen as an objective, we are not going to take side ... we will decide on the basis of principle," he said at a press conference after officiating at The National Baitulmal Convention 2009 at Masjid wilayah Persekutuan here Wednesday.

Najib, who is also finance minister, told the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday MAHB did not take any drastic action to claim the arrears owed by AirAsia because it would only affect the operation of the low-cost carrier terminal.

He said it would also give a negative impact to MAHB as the operator and manager of airports.

Najib said MAHB was in negotiations with the airline to resolve the matter, adding MAHB was confident in resolving the matter.