12 December 2014
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today named a five-member independent audit committee to probe safety issues at klia2.
Liow said the committee formed under the Transport Ministry, will be headed by Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific (FEIAP) president Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik, with members from both the private and government sectors.
The other members of the committee are Civil Aviation Department (DCA) director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, Public Works Department (PWD) director-general Datuk Annies Md Ariff, G&P Professionals Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Gue See Sew, and Petronas general manager M. Shobri Abu Bakar.
Speaking to newsmen after his first official visit to the airport during which he had to trudge in ankle-deep water on the apron, Liow said the committee will:
– review klia2's compliance with all regulatory requirements;
– review all safety aspects in regard to the differential settlement on the aircraft parking apron;
– have to present its report to the ministry by mid-2015.
Liow said the report will be made public for transparency and accountability, and pledged that action will be taken against those responsible for the various problems that have arisen at klia2.
However, he maintained that the defects do not affect flight operations at klia2.
klia2 had been scheduled to be completed in 2011 at a cost of RM1.7 billion, but was delayed for three years and became operational only in May this year, after five postponements and at a final cost of RM4 billion.
Even after being opened, the terminal was fraught with safety issues, with low-cost carrier AirAsia refusing to move from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to klia2 until the problems were addressed.
The problems include cracked tarmac on the airport apron, soil depression and water pooling after heavy rain, a situation which presented itself for Liow to experience when he went to inspect the apron during the visit.
Present during his visit were Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) senior officials headed by managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali.
Liow had announced in the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 4 that the ministry would appoint an independent audit committee to look into klia2, after a video of MAHB staff using buckets to scoop water from the apron, went viral on social media.
The Public Accounts Committee had, however, called for a full audit on klia2 to be conducted by the auditor-general.
Liow said as the ministry takes public safety very seriously, MAHB has been instructed to give its full cooperation to the committee to facilitate investigations.
"PAC's recommendations will be answered by MAHB. They need to be transparent and accountable in all their decisions made; they will answer, they have to answer all of PAC's queries," he said.
Badlisham was evasive when queried by reporters and refused to reveal reparation costs but said the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Ikram's report which gave klia2 the green light to operate, had been sent to the PAC, as requested on Oct 30.
Original Source: www.thesundaily.my
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