19 August 2013
The task force overseeing the repeatedly-delayed klia2 today maintained there will be no more deferrals to the hybrid airport project, even as it announced changes to one of its contractors.
The task force, headed by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, visited the klia2 site today and held its third fortnightly meeting prior to the press conference.
“Everything is on track, so there is no mystery.
“It is clear, all on the table,” Aziz said at a press conference, referring to a statement made by AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Last week, Fernandes took a jab at the lack of transparency behind the controversial klia2 project, saying, “You know, who really knows what’s going on in klia2. It is one of the mysteries of the world.
“The date moves every few weeks and someone else is always to be blamed.”
Today, Aziz announced that Norwegian company BCS Group had been appointed last week to take over the baggage handling system from the previous contractor.
Two weeks ago, MALAYSIAN AE Models Holdings Bhd (Maemode), the first major public-listed company affected by delay became financially-distressed and fell into the PN17 category even as the blame game for the delay continues to play out.
Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) chief operating officer Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohd Ali told reporters that BCS Group was appointed last week.
“The balance of work is only about 30 per cent.
“So they are catching up, I think they won’t have a problem to complete as per schedule,” he said.
However, there will be a RM20 million cost increase to RM60 million.
The Malay Mail Online understands that a semi-automated baggage handling system was torn down even as it was completed midway, after MAHB decided to switch the system to fully automatic.
“Slightly increase [in cost] because that time it was awarded three years ago.
“Now they have to base it on the current price,” Hamid said.
Despite assurances that there would be no further delays, he recommended that the MAHB klia2 Project Team review certain work components that have stalled and reassign them to others if the contractors responsible are unable to meet their deadlines.
Apart from the baggage handling system, other works that have been reassigned to new contractors include the service road and Airport Fire and Rescue Building.
“The progress development of klia2 is very good in progress and all development, as been earlier mentioned, that the date of completion will be still in place, intact on April 30.
“Some of the terminal are completed but only on the main terminal [we] still doing the inter-phasing and integrating all items like the baggage system and also the IT system.
“So the most important thing is that the progress is very good and even we will do a test landing at the end of September on runway three,” Aziz said.
A check by The Malay Mail Online on June 29 showed that parts of the taxiway were barely completed while some were even in the midst of doing pilling works.
“There is a little bit delay on the taxiway but the contractor are catching up and we are confidant the job will be done by November,” Aziz said today.
MAHB had said that smaller contractors may also be hit with fines if the delays are not justified.
So far, only the contractor for the main terminal building UEM-Bina Puri joint venture was slapped with a hefty RM60 million fine, even ad it claimed that it was more than 90 per cent complete.
Despite the last minute changes to contractors as well as delays in several packages, Aziz was confident that the project would be completed and be operational by May 2, 2014, after being postponed from it’s original October, 2012 completion date.
“No, definitely no [more delays] and as I’ve mentioned the progress are all in place scheduled … by 30th of April will be completed.
“Confirm, 100 per cent,” he assured.
Overall, the mega project is 92.5 per cent completed while the main terminal is 96 per cent done.
“Basically the ceiling is RM4 billion but most important thing we want to complete the job.
“And we are confident that the cost would be roughly plus minus RM4 billion because we haven’t come to the final account,” he said, suggesting that there could be further increase.
However, Aziz assured that the passengers will not bear the brunt of the cost, saying that the passenger service charge (PSC) at klia2 will be the same as charged at LCCT, which is RM32 for international passengers and RM6 for domestic passengers, although the fee will be up for review next year.
So far, RM3.1 billion has been spent on the project.
Source: www.themalaymailonline.com
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