In-flight nightclubs? Don’t be ridiculous, PAS’ Riduan told

Nufam chief says planes aren't turned into entertainment centres just because passengers drink alcohol.

Ismail has not encountered a club-like scene in 26 years of service.

PETALING JAYA: The president of an airline workers union has accused PAS central committee member Riduan Mohd Nor of making an exaggerated statement about the consequences of serving alcohol during flights.

Ismail Nasaruddin, who heads the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam), said Riduan was being “ridiculous” when he likened passenger planes to nightclubs.

He told FMT he had not encountered a club-like scene on any flight in his 26 years of service.

“That’s an exaggeration,” he said in reference to a statement attributed to Riduan in a news report.

According to the report, Riduan was adding his voice to calls for a ban on alcohol on Malaysia Airline flights. He was quoted as saying the ban would serve as a lesson to people who looked upon passenger planes as entertainment centres where they could do as they pleased.

He also said there was no need for the government to worry that Malaysia Airlines would lose passengers if it didn’t serve alcohol because some people valued airlines for other aspects of their service, such as punctuality, efficiency, safety and care for passenger comfort.

Ismail acknowledged that concerns over safety were legitimate when considering the case for or against serving alcohol. He said studies had shown that the consumption of alcohol can cause problems on flights.

Aziz says airlines have to serve alcohol to remain competitive.

“Some consideration can be made for reducing the amounts brought on flights or for serving only a certain number of drinks to passengers,” he said.

He suggested that PAS make its stand in Parliament, adding that his union neither supported nor opposed the practice of serving alcohol to passengers.

Former Malaysia Airlines managing director Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said airlines had to serve alcohol in order to remain competitive.

He said he could understand why PAS, as an Islamist political organisation, was objecting to the practice.

However, he added, Malaysia Airlines would normally refrain from serving alcohol to Muslim passengers.

Liow told Parliament that Putrajaya would let airlines decide whether to serve alcohol or not.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai recently told Parliament that Putrajaya would let airlines decide whether or not to serve alcohol on their flights.

Last January, a drunk passenger on a Malaysia Airlines flight had to have her hands and feet tied after she screamed racist slurs at the cabin crew and kicked a flight attendant for refusing her more alcohol.

In another incident, a woman and her boyfriend reportedly banged on passenger seats and spilt their drinks on a London-bound Malaysia Airlines flight.

Ivy Chong contributed to this article. -FMT