Jangan beban lagi anak kapal kabin, kata kesatuan

Nufam, representing cabin crew of Malaysia's aviation company, has criticized Transport, Culture and Arts Minister Tiong King Sing for proposed rules requiring pilots and cabin crew to report earlier for drug tests, adding more stress to already overworked professionals. Nufam Malaysia Cabin Crew Union (Nufam) stated that Tiong should realize cabin crew work under immense pressure with long, unpredictable shift patterns, sleepless nights, and irregular flight schedules.

Any additional requirement would bring more mental pressure to all aviation workers, not just cabin crew. Enforcing an additional two-hour drug testing requirement before a flight is clearly unjustifiable as it adds to the mental pressure before flying. Fatigue directly impacts awareness, focus, reaction time, decision-making, and their ability to act effectively during emergencies, a serious safety concern, according to Nufam's secretary.

Nufam also questioned who would bear the cost of the extra two hours of work for cabin crew members. Was it the minister proposing higher pay for cabin crew, or the government? Prior to this, Tiong suggested pilots and cabin crew could report earlier for up to one and a half to two hours before a drug test to avoid taking the test.

The president of Nufam, Ismail Nasaruddin Abdul Wahab, said Tiong should consider every pilot, including flight instructors, undergoing a pre-flight rest involving a minimum rest period or break time before their flight duty. Such pre-and post-flight rest must be considered in all safety aspects and relevant to their flight operation schedule, reflecting their reporting duties before any release.

Tiong must know that this also complies with aviation regulations, he told FMT. Cabin crew will face pressure during drug testing. It also depends on how they control hundreds of cabin crew members at the same time. It will cause delays in many flights if we talk about drug testing before flights.