Chairman of Airfreight Forwarders Association of Malaysia passes away

KUALA LUMPUR: The public face of the Airfreight Forwarders Association of Malaysia (AFAM), Walter Culas, has passed away.

Culas, 70, has been involved in the airfreight industry for 48 years and helmed AFAM for 28 years. He died at 5am on Friday (Nov 3).

Established in 1975 as Persatuan Ejen-Ejen Kargo Udara Malaysia, AFAM’s main role is to represent the interests of its members and to air their problems to the relevant authorities.

AFAM provides a platform for its members to discuss issues affecting them and government policies, where they approach the government as one voice.

On its website, AFAM said it deals with 28 government agencies and government bodies such as the Finance Ministry, Royal Malaysian Customs, Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, Transport Ministry, the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), the Health Ministry, the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

The list includes Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, Free Zone Authority, Port Klang Authority, cargo terminal operators such as MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd, POS Aviation Sdn Bhd, and Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd, along with port operators such as Northport, Westports, and Port Klang Free Zone.

Culas was described as being continuously driven in his quest to engage authorities to promote greater efficiency and transparency in the regulation and management of the airfreight business.

“He led the organisation in requesting facilities on behalf of our members. He has seen it all and done it all. Despite achieving respectable veteran status in the industry, he still has no plans to rest on his laurels,” said a post on the Afam website.

Details of his wake and funeral, expected at Seremban, will be issued shortly.