Published on: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 |
Kota Kinabalu: Upgrading work on the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) - Malaysia's second busiest - is now expected to be completed by May, next year, about a year behind schedule.
A combination of delays involving Package 1 and Package 2 of the RM1.4 billion project saw the completion date initially being pushed to Dec. 15 but further delays have pushed it to May.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun was on Tuesday given a briefing by Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB), which has called on the two contractors for the respective packages to deliver the project on time.
"But looking at the schedule, tentatively, I assume the new airport would be fully operational by the end of May (next year)," he said.
"The first package should be doing really well despite hiccups. As you know it took some time for the Royal Sabah Turf Club (RSTC) to move out and it has held up a lot of work but now they (MAB) have been able to take possession of the site and (allow the contractor) continue with that part of the job. The other contractor will do likewise."
Masidi said MAB had met with both contractors "who were not at the full speed of work at this point of time" to find out further reasons for the delay.
"There is no problem with the first package but it's only the second one that is a little delayed," he said, without specifying the problem.
"But I believe the reasons (given) are quite academic (and) I suppose the delays are something manageable. Put it this way, they have other options available in case there would be more delays. I was made to understand they are willing to come back in full force in December," he said.
However, he underlined the Government's stance on the matter, pointing out the project had been delayed for far too long.
"The Government's stand is quite clear É you must finish it by May. The entire work was supposed to have been completed May this year. (Now) there is a one-year delay," Masidi said.
"While we accept some of the reasons for the delay there were other reasons that could have been managed better.
"I don't like to put blame or pinpoint. I'd rather say 'okay, what do we do from here?'. I'm always a very positive person because I feel for every problem there is a solution."
Inspectorate-General for government projects in Sabah, Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha, had said in June that the KKIA expansion work was held up due to a delay by RSTC to move out its operations to the Tambalang in Tuaran. As a result, the project completion date was pushed to Dec. 15 this year.
