Runway in delayed KLIA2 airport won’t sink, assures Hishamuddin
BY YISWAREE PALANSAMY
October 07, 2013
A Malindo Air plane makes a succesful trial landing on runway 3 at KLIA2 in Sepang, this morning. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 7, 2013.A Malindo Air plane makes a succesful trial landing on runway 3 at KLIA2 in Sepang, this morning. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, October 7, 2013.
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein today gave assurance that the new runway at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2) will not sink.
"We know we are not perfect, but we are on track," he said.
The third runway project at the new terminal for low-cost carriers has been shrouded in controversy after several members of the opposition alleged that the runway risked sinking due to shoddy work.
"There is always cynicism in what we do, especially from the alternative media," Hishamuddin, who is also the Defence Minister, said.
He added such remarks do not do justice "to people who worked hard to show probably something unique in the region".
"If our runways sink, we would not have retained our seat in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for our professionalism.
"It is not an easy feat to accomplish," he told a press conference after witnessing the trial landing of the first commercial aircraft Malindo Air Boeing 737-900ER on the third runway.
However, Hishamuddin did not say when KLIA 2 would start operations.
"I see that those involved in this are taking their tasks seriously and I hope the project can be completed in May at no additional cost," he said, noting that there is more work to be done.
"I do not want to talk about the vision for KLIA 2 until what we hope for is completed. There are many challenges ahead and it is important to not put vision first until we complete this," he added.
In September last year, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it would look into Khazanah Nasional Berhad's role in the delays and rising costs of the KLIA 2 project, as well as in the share swap involving Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia led to a RM20 million anti-trust fine.
PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the committee would investigate the roles of consultants and merchant bankers in these deals although both MAS and Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) are public-listed companies, with state asset manager Khazanah as the main shareholder.
The KLIA 2 project was initially budgeted at RM1.6 billion but the cost ballooned to RM4 billion after several amendments.
The new airport was initially slated to open in September 2011 but the date has since been delayed five times. It is now expected to be ready in May next year.
According to media reports, MAHB received 230 non-compliance reports for the new terminal, including cracks in the buildings as well as ceilings which were built too low, requiring them to be torn down and rebuilt. - October 7, 2013.
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