KL Airports Now Have Mandarin-Speaking Officials To Assist Chinese Tourists
It came into effect on 30 September 2018.
By Andrea Tang — 02 Oct 2018, 04:52 PM
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has appointed Mandarin-speaking officials in certain areas of KLIA and klia2 to attract and assist Chinese tourists
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook announced this on 30 September in a Facebook post.
A total of six Mandarin speakers will be deployed at critical junctions like the satellite building, contact pier, immigration arrival, and baggage claim area in KLIA and klia2.
Chinese tourists face communication difficulties as most of the officials only speak English and Bahasa Malaysia
After consulting with MAHB and Tourism Ministry, the Transport Ministry decided to put the plan of deploying Mandarin-speaking officials into motion, as reported by Oriental Daily.
The officials will wear a sash that says, "I can speak Mandarin," around their bodies so they can be spotted easily
Their daily shifts will be from 8am to 3pm and 3pm to 10pm. According to Loke, these are the peak hours for flights arriving from China and Hong Kong.
MAHB will also be working with local private institutions to recruit part-timers to work as such officials
Han Cultural Centre, INTI College, as well as Linton University College are some of the institutions involved.
Additionally, a special guidebook in Mandarin is also in the works to be published
MAHB acting group CEO Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin confirmed this to The Star.