Dewan Negara president S Vigneswaran has denied Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s allegation that he flouted security protocol at the KLIA VIP lounge.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Vigneswaran said he regretted that he was not given an opportunity to explain his version of events before the minister took the issue to the press.
“The comments made by the minister are inappropriate, wrong and unjustified.
“I contacted him (Loke) today and asked him to call me when he is able to. He chose not to hear to my side of the story,” he said.
Earlier today, Loke had shown members of the media a CCTV footage of the Nov 14 incident.
The transport minister claimed that Vigneswaran had knowingly flouted security protocol, including wearing slippers and thus breaching dress code rules, raising his voice at airport staff and entering the VIP lounge without a security pass.
Vigneswaran, who is also MIC president, admitted that he did not have a security pass on him when he entered the lounge but directed blame towards the security personnel on duty.
“I normally don’t hold it (a security pass), I have never been asked to hold one.
“If I did not have it, the security should have held me. It is not me who should be blamed,” he said.
‘Rules interpreted at officer’s whim’
At the press conference today, KLIA customer experience personnel Norafiza Mohd Nasir had also recalled her altercation with Vigneswaran in the lounge.
When asked if he had raised his voice at her when she showed him a government circular on the dress code, Vigneswaran did not answer but blamed her for “interpreting” the rules unfairly.
“It was the receptionist at the VIP lounge who stopped me, not the security personnel […] the circular had no mention about slippers, only that guests needed to be berpakaian bersesuaian (dressed appropriately).
“How can she talk about slippers (being not allowed)? People walk in with slippers (all the time) when they have to do prayers at the prayer room in the lounge.
“She interpreted the rules according to her whims and fancies,” he said.
He explained that he had worn slippers due to minor swelling on his foot and had entered the lounge to send off his child who was travelling overseas.
Vigneswaran said his aide had lodged a complaint about the treatment he had received at the VIP lounge the next day after it happened.
The complaint, which Malaysiakini has sighted, stated that there had been no clear signs barring the use of slippers and said such a rule was not “appropriate” for guests who wanted to travel at their own comfort.
He had also asked for action to be taken against the staff who had tended to him at the lounge.
It was emailed to the Prime Minister’s Department, which oversees privileges offered to top government personnel. MKINI
Why should I say sorry, asks Vigneswaran over KLIA incident
PETALING JAYA: Dewan Negara president SA Vigneswaran has denied breaching security protocols while using VIP services at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport recently, as claimed by the transport minister.
Vigneswaran, who is also the MIC president, branded Loke Siew Fook’s attempt to “childishly” shame him today, without contacting him for a clarification, was an “attack” on his role for being in the opposition.
Earlier today, Loke told a press conference that Vigneswaran had committed a security breach at KLIA on the night of Nov 14.
Vigneswaran is said to have gone through a VIP lane without undergoing a required bodycheck.
Loke, a DAP leader, said that Vigneswaran also did not comply with the dress code and was wearing slippers when sending off his daughter through the VIP lane. Vigneswaran was asked to apologise.
“It is clear that he menceroboh (trespassed). He just went through, without this (security) pass.
“He ignored the security officer. He refused to be searched and just walked through.
“He then went downstairs to the (VIP lounge) counter and scolded and shouted at our officer,” Loke was reported as saying.
Vigneswaran, however, said that he did go through the body check and was cleared by the officers on duty.
He explained that as he was leaving, the officers called him to alert him that an elevator had come up to take him to the lobby. However, this was misinterpreted as him arguing with the staff members in question, Vigneswaran told FMT.
Later, as he approached the departure gates, Vigneswaran said one staff member rebuked him for wearing slippers as he had a wound.
He said the airport staff member’s claim that he was rude was “totally unreasonable”.
He said all he asked for was to see the supposed government circular stating that VIPs were not allowed to wear sandals.
The circular only stated that VIPs must be appropriately attired, in Malay, with no specific mention of the type of footwear required.
Given that there was nothing to suggest he had flouted any rules, Vigneswaran said he proceeded to the gates.
‘Kangaroo court’
“I don’t recognise kangaroo courts,” Vigneswaran told FMT when asked if he would issue an apology on the incident.
“Why should I apologise? He (Loke) should apologise to me instead,” Vigneswaran said.
“He doesn’t have the courtesy to hear both sides, which is only natural before coming to any decision.
“He did this on his own accord. As far as I’m concerned, he is ill-informed or things were misconstrued.
“If he wants to call a press conference and air videos claiming I breached something, so be it.
“He can carry on doing whatever he wants,” he said, adding that his office had lodged a complaint the day after on the incident but did not hear anything back. – FREE MALAYSIA TODAY
MKINI / FREE MALAYSIA TODAY
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