IT is important for Putrajaya to act immediately to resolve Malaysia’s air safety rating downgrade by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said Wee Ka Siong.

The FAA recently downgraded the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s (CAAM) air safety rating for failing to meet international safety standards.

“This is something the government (and) ministers should sit down, discuss and rectify.

“Whatever needs to be done, they have to do it immediately so that for the next audit within 12 months, they can achieve category 1,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

He said the government has to take the downgrade seriously as transportation was a main catalyst of economic growth.

“We have to take it seriously. We cannot say that it is business as usual and that this won’t affect our country,” he said.

“Bear in mind, transportation is one of the sectors (that is a) catalyst for economic growth,” he added. 

Wee said growth in the transport sector would mean business was good. 

“If you don’t have more routes to the US and big countries, do you think our country can export goods as we wish?” he asked.

He also said that during Barisan Nasional’s rule, the CAAM rating had always remained in Category 1. 

“Whatever shortcomings (BN may) have said, the grade remained as Category 1, but under Pakatan Harapan now, after 18 months, it has been downgraded to Category 2. That’s it,” he said.

“It has to explain why. Don’t tell me this is inherited from the previous government. People are sick of this excuse,” he added.

The FAA had told The Malaysian Insight in a statement recently that the downgrade was due to the CAAM’s failure to meet international safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Meanwhile, the CAAM said it was confident it would meet all US FAA requirements within 12 months.

CAAM member Afzal Abdul Rahim had told a press conference yesterday that it hoped to be back to Category 1 within 24 months. – November 13, 2019.