SUVARNABHUMI

Firm promises poor security will improve

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

The airport security provider for Suvarnabhumi is promising to improve its service to meet the needs of Airports of Thailand (AoT) and save its contract. Karn Thongyai, managing director of Asia Security Management, part of the Loxley-ICTS Consortium, which provides security, said yesterday the consortium was determined to give the best service at Suvarnabhumi airport and was ready to listen to criticism and correct flaws.

He admitted its security service had been poor but said this had only been during initial operations at Suvarnabhumi when things were rushed and not ready. Those flaws were already resolved and the consortium was giving the best service it could, he said.

He also said that the consortium did not want to compromise in its work because failure to meet requirements meant a huge fine. A lack of security guards resulted in a fine of 2,000 baht per guard per shift, he said.

As for the report that AoT is considering terminating the consortium's contract, Mr Karn said he needed to talk with AoT's management. Losing the contract would be a great loss since it had to pay 36 million baht a month to its security guards.

Since Sept 27 last year, AoT has not paid for hiring the security service which costs 42 million baht a month. The consortium has demanded that 180 million baht overdue as of January be paid.

AoT chairman Saprang Kalayanamitr said yesterday the payment was postponed because AoT was evaluating the security service quality.

Chirmsak Pinthong, spokesman of the AoT board, said the security service provided by the consortium was flawed. In some areas, only one guard absent could spell disaster, he said.

Bangkok Post

Saturday March 31, 2007