AIRPORTS are hubs of economic growth and they tend to provide a huge multiplier effect to the country’s economy. Unfortunately, our airports have lost their shine over the years, having fallen victim to poor upkeep and mismanagement that have become synonymous with major infrastructure projects in Malaysia.

So, when it was recently announced that a consortium led by Khazanah and the Employees Provident Fund is planning to take the Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) private, it provides a glimmer of hope for our airports to turn their fates around.

Also part of the consortium are the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which have invested in, managed, and turned around the Sydney and London Gatwick airports.

In the media release announcing the decision, the consortium clearly spelt out that it had planned to upgrade and modernise MAHB’s airports and operations, enhance passenger service levels, improve airline connectivity and stimulate passenger and freight growth.

Among others, the consortium had stated that if the deal goes through, its priorities would be to complete the Aerotrain and the baggage handling system at KLIA and enhance passenger experience by alleviating congestion, improving passenger flows and terminal ambience.

Anyone who’s used KLIA in recent times would know that these are areas that need to be urgently addressed, lest it falls further than its eighth spot as the worst airport in the world, according to a survey published by “Business Financing” in March this year.

The truth is that Malaysia is strategically located in the fast-growing Southeast Asian market, and enjoys a large network of capital city and regional airports, with outstanding potential to develop a diverse and growing traffic base.

But we will not be able to harness this potential if the first thing visitors or potential investors see upon landing in the country is unnecessarily snaking queues, missing luggage, air conditioning breakdowns or dirty toilets.

Statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that Malaysia is already lagging behind its regional competitors, and we are not just comparing with Singapore’s Changi International Airport.

In 2023, KLIA recorded only 76% of its pre-pandemic traffic in 2019, behind Manila (95%) and Singapore (86%). This is despite Malaysia’s aeronautical charges being among the lowest, if not the lowest, in the region.

Obviously, pricing alone would not be sufficient to draw international air travellers if they are put off by the current state of our airports. We’ve come to a stage where sweet promises wouldn’t work anymore.

We need to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty if we want to turn things around for our airports. Now, we have a real chance to make Malaysian airports the gleaming pride of the nation, like they used to.

What more can we hope for when we can get foreign expertise with a proven track record to turn things around, but at the same time, two institutions backed by the government (Khazanah and EPF) have a 70% controlling stake?

We should not blow this chance. Missing out on this will be like missing a flight to sign a life-changing business deal.

* Muhammad Syukri Razak reads The Malaysian Insight.