KUALA LUMPUR: A routine visit to the Petronas Twin Towers' Skybridge took an unexpected turn for a visitor who alleged that the management prioritised foreign visitors, enabling them to bypass the queue.
The said visitor recounting the incident in a Facebook post, claimed that the personnel on duty had allowed a Western couple to skip ahead to access the covered bridge situated at a height of 170 meters.
Datuk Shamsuddin Nawawi disclosed that he had eagerly purchased his tickets at 11.30am for the 4.00pm slot, emphasising that the pricing for Malaysian seniors and MyKid cardholders was uniform at RM34. He also acknowledged the 'First Come First Serve' ticket issuance policy.
"At around 2.00pm, we returned and took seats in the waiting area. We waited patiently until 3.45pm, when we were finally allowed to queue up for ticket scanning," he detailed.
Around 3.00 pm, an officer, identifiable by a Petronas necktie, approached a Western couple in the vicinity to inquire about their ticket timing.
According to Shamsuddin, the officer subsequently 'winked' at the Western couple, signaling them to proceed and bypass the queue.
This left him perplexed as to why the Western couple was permitted to ascend first, despite his earlier arrival.
"When I raised the issue with the officers, they asserted their authority to prioritise as they saw fit. The Western couple had just arrived, appearing perfectly able-bodied," he lamented.
Frustrated, Shamsuddin took to Facebook to share his experience, questioning the need for an excess of courtesy towards Westerners, potentially to the detriment of fellow Malaysians who patiently await their turn.
He implored the management of the Petronas Twin Towers to address the matter and suggested a review of the CCTV footage for verification.
Meanwhile, the Petronas Twin Towers' Visit Operations Management has issued an apology over the incident.
"Petronas Twin Towers' Visit Operations Management would like to apologise for the incident that occurred.
"We are taking this matter seriously and are conducting an immediate investigation into it. We will make sure this doesn't happen again.
"We regret any inconveniences caused," it said in a statement today.