THE four Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmakers who were stranded in Jakarta for almost the entire Sunday after Malaysia Airlines (MAS) had delayed and then cancelled their flight are now on their way home to Malaysia.
At 10.41am this morning, Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau posted an update on his Facebook page saying “Akhirnya MAS atur kami ambil Batik Air…Terima kasih @AnthonyLoke” (Finally MAS has arranged a Batik Air flight for us…Thank you @AnthonyLoke).
Three out of the four lawmakers involved – Madius, Subang MP Wong Chen and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii – had taken to social media to update their followers on the ongoing situation whereas Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung remained mum about the situation.
In a previous post, the former UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) had explained that the four MPs were in Jakarta for an ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) conference and were scheduled to depart the capital on a 6.40pm flight.
“We had already checked in and gone through Immigration, but the flight was suddenly delayed before being cancelled,” he noted.
“As an MP, I have a responsibility to attend Parliament. Us four MPs have been forced to wait in Jakarta until there is another MAS flight. These sorts of things should not be happening.”
DAP’s Dr Yii, in an 11.32pm update on his Facebook page last night said: “Apparently there is a problem with the communications systems as the pilot are unable to communicate with the air traffic control tower.
“Glad they figured that out before we flew. They tried restarting the system a few times but it still didn’t work.
“We still do not know when we are flying tomorrow. Hopefully (we) will be able to make it for Parliament,” he said, referring to today’s Dewan Rakyat sitting, which commences at 10am.
Meanwhile, Wong stated at 7.47am this morning that the stranded passengers were notified that their flight had been rescheduled to 2pm today and would arrive at KLIA at 5.10pm.
“I was supposed to meet women’s rights non-governmental organisations on the lack of gender-responsive budgeting in Budget 2023 at 12pm in Parliament today.
“I was also due to preside as acting speaker for the second chamber at 2.30pm, as there are many emergency debates on the Johor floods,” he remarked.
Despite the frustrating delays, he also managed to troll Manchester United fans by saying “not all is bad unless you are a Manchester United fan” as the football team was mauled by Liverpool 7-0 this morning.
Netizens flay MAS for “incompetence”
In response to Wong’s Facebook post, netizens were up in arms in their criticism of MAS, saying that such incidents were nothing new.
Sonia Charles, for example, said:
Tj Hooker:
Alif Ridzo:
In response Leong Wai Loon said:
Main pic credit: Facebook/Wilfred Madius Tangau
