A photo released by the reps, showing an aerial view of the KLIA2 site
The Project has missed deadlines repeatedly, according to PR MPs
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 March — Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians have stated their concerns regarding the construction progress of KLIA2, calling into question the possibility of an on time completion the new low-cost carrier terminal, scheduled to be on May.
Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya, Tony Pua and Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah posed their doubts over a statement released by an MAHB official on 8 March, which claimed that work on the terminal is “on track”.
MAHB, or Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, through its senior general manager Faizah Khairuddin said that the current progress for the construction of KLIA2 has “surpassed the 80 percent rate”.
In a press conference at the DAP headquarters here on 11 March, both Pua and Nurul Izzah showed photographs of the airport terminal’s on-going work, of which the MPs suggested as appearing to be behind schedule.
“In this photo we can see clearly that the earthwork is not yet complete, stones and tar are not yet placed. All of these are still not yet complete,” said Pua.
Pua, who is also DAP National Publicity Secretary, added that the remaining work for the terminal would take at least three months to finish.
The DAP lawmaker also did not dismiss the possibility of time buying by the postponement of the terminal’s commencement date. “We are assuming the announcement [of] June 28 is to buy time,” Pua said.
Delay after delay
Another photo captures the current progress at the terminal’s shopping and parking area
Construction work for KLIA2 is set to conclude by May 1, with the terminal’s official launching scheduled to take place nearly two months’ later on 28 June this year. According to the MAHB, Prime Minister Najib Razak himself has chosen the launching date for the new terminal.
28 June also coincides with the date the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was inaugurated back in 1998.
Nurul Izzah, also PKR Vice President, relayed her concern on the notable climb of the KLIA2’s construction cost, adding that the construction cost of the terminal also involved usage of public funds.
“Before this the cost was RM1.7 billion, it then increased to RM3.4 billion and now, RM3.9 billion,” she explained.
Nurul Izzah also said that Pua and her are ready to pay a site visit to inspect on the on-going works at the KLIA2.
“We would also like to request the Transport Ministry, including MAHB officers, to arrange a site visit,” she urged.
Located at 1.5km away from the KLIA main terminal building, the 257,000 square meter-KLIA2 is meant to “replace the LCCT” and designed to cater for about 45 million passengers a year.
The construction work for the new terminal, which started on October 2009, has failed to meet its earlier scheduled deadlines, notably on September 2011 and later on April 2012. — The Rocket
