Airfreight forwarders plan boycott over RFID impasse

Airfreight forwarders are planning to boycott the so-called secured trade system using radio frequency identification (RFID) seals, which was supposed to go live on Saturday, as they felt that the revised agreement drafted by its promoter was lopsided.

The new system, undertaken by the Royal Malaysian Customs and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to enhance container security, has hit a snag with association Airfreight Forwarders of Malaysia (AFAM) calling upon its members not to sign up for the new system until negotiations with project vendor Smartag Solutions Bhd are resolved.

“You may proceed with the rollout of the RFID tags but without the signing of the ‘new’ version of the agreement,” according to a letter from AFAM to Smartag, obtained by The Malaysian Reserve.

It is understood that AFAM decided on the boycott as Smartag had allegedly ignored feedback the airfreight forwarders made through the industry body.

“Smartag is high-handed and arrogant. In the agreement, they can do whatever they want, and terminate an agreement whenever they want,” said AFAM chairman Walter Cullas.

AFAM had also questioned the need for the RM2,000 deposit to Smartag. With some 3,000 members, this would come up to RM6 million.

In his response to The Malaysian Reserve, Smartag chief executive officer Lim Peong Keong said the company was fully aware of the “teething problems” of the system’s implementation.

“The user agreement was drafted taking into consideration the terms and conditions of the main agreement with Customs and the need to protect some of the costly hardware against willful damage by users,” he said.

Lim added that the company is gathering feedback from users and plans to engage all related parties to resolve the matter.

“Objections on the terms and conditions of user agreement are understandable and there're still room for further discussion,” he said.

Smartag is a track and trace solution provider that utilises RFID and other wireless technologies.

Smartag’s RFID logistics and transportation solutions is able to be deployed in warehouses, ports, airports, dist ribut ion cent res and stores, according to the company's website.

Smartag’s RFID solutions utilise RFID technologies to increase the quality, speed, and accuracy of data that accompanies each package, pallet or container, it added.

On the potential impact with the delay, Lim said that while "Smartag would like to see revenue flowing in from the RFID system", it would not disrupt its cashflow as it has other usage for the system.

“Smartag is positive that the issues can be resolved in due course and that all related parties are working hard to ensure successful implementation of the system, which is part of the government's Economic Transformation Programme,” he said.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) customers using the newly launched Apple iPad MHkiosk will get a waiver on the administrative fee for travel during the six-month pilot project period.

MAS charges an administration fee of RM30 for domestic destinations and RM60 for international destination, said its managing director and chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin after unveiling the kiosks.

The initial five kiosks are stationed at KL Sentral and the national carrier expects 10 per cent of its customers to use the MHkiosk for their transactions, he said.

Customers going to the KL Sentral office, which serves about 900 customers a day, can now book and purchase flights, search for flight schedules and flight status, check-in as well as choose their preferred seat via the kiosk.

Jetstar using Symbol PPT8800

Jetstar presently operates to 15 destinations throughout Australia and now flies over 880 weekly
services. Weight and balance play an important role in the flight of all aircraft. Aeroplanes can't depart if
they exceed maximum weight limits, and it's important that they are balanced evenly between nose and tail. The maximum weight and balance limits of an aeroplane are set by its manufacturer and they are enforced through regulatory requirements set by the Civil Aviation
Safety Authority. When departing a port, every aeroplane must leave behind a printed statement of its weight and balance, along with the cargo and passenger manifest, which must be kept on file at the port for a minimum of three months. They have over 19 units of Symbol PPT8800 PDA (for each plane) which lets the pilot enter weight and balance figures and instantaneously

report is printed out with portable printer to kept for filing.
" The PPT 8800 has been a fantastic success and embraced by all of our staff. It plays a major
role in helping Jetstar continue to work smartly and provide a low cost, pleasing experience to
travellers." said Captain McBain.

Cell phone Boarding Pass

Pretty soon you'll be able to board Continental Airlines flights with a boarding pass stored on your phone. As part of a new pilot program, Continental will be testing the using of electronic passes that could signal the end of the paper passes we know and love. The three month trial will be available for passengers flying out of Houston for now. A unique barcode is sent to a user's phone by the system. It is encrypted and tied directly to the user's handset, so the chances for fraud are low. When you get to the gate all you have to do is open up the message on your screen, the gate attendant will scan it using the Psion Teklogix Workabout Pro Gen2 handheld with barcode reader, and you can proceed to your uncomfortable seat. Though this makes perfect sense, and I could see it being rolled out quickly across a number of airlines. Make sure you don't forget to bring your cell phone...