A BN parliamentarian today raised a host of issues with the KLIA2 terminal, saying that the government seemed to have focused more on “shopping malls” within the terminal, rather than facilities in the airport itself.

“It’s as though we only care about the shopping mall. What about the terminal itself? So, people are going to come, shop and just leave?” asked Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing ( right ), while also complaining about retail prices in KLIA2 being more expensive than in KLIA itself.

He also criticised the airport authorities for not using the existing check-in systems that AirAsia possesses, which he said could have saved Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) money that could have been invested in facilities.

AirAsia is currently forced to use the Sita check-in system which MAHB had invested in instead of its own.

"This is because we want to integrate all check-in systems to make things smooth. Otherwise, there will be confusion," was Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi's  answer to Tiong during question time today.

He also said that KLIA2 is basically an extension of KLIA and the extensive shopping areas are part of the "business continuity" for the airport.

"So far, there have been no major complaints and operations have been smooth," he added.