Two Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers have raised concerns over further delays to the opening of the new KLIA2 terminal - scheduled to start operations on June 28 this year - because earthworks to build the runway, the control tower, its systems and the aircraft apron are far from completion.

This is despite Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd having announced last month that the terminal is 80 percent completed .

NONE Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said at best, it would take at least another six months for the low-cost carrier terminal to be completed.

“The construction cost of the KLIA2 terminal and runway has ballooned from RM1.7 billion in 2009 to RM4 billion and it had been delayed many times.

“Yes, the terminal may be 80 percent completed but the four areas mentioned still have a lot of work to be done. Judging by the earthworks, including the soil to the runway from the peat land having yet to be settled, it would take some time, at least another six months, for it to be completed,” said Pua, showing the photographs taken by them two weeks ago.

The terminal was originally targeted for completion in late 2011 but its completion has been postponed several times.

Following this, Nurul Izzah and Pua have urged Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha to arrange for the MPs to visit the facility.

Pua said the MPs asked for a visit to KLIA2 last year, but Kong turned them down at the last minute.

4km-long runaway

He said MAHB has not updated the pictures of the KLIA2 facility as well, resulting in the MPs taking matters into their own hands by going to the site to take photographs, including aerial shots.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP and DAP publicity secretary said the essential component of any airport would be the runaway, and there was cause for concern as the pictures showed that the runaway was yet to be tarred.

“From what we gather, the soil has yet to settle as the area is peat land. The problem is there because the KLIA2 is being built on the 'soft side' of KLIA. If the soil is not settled, it will affect the construction of the 4km runaway,” Pua said.

NONE He said the runaway would have to take the load of aircraft landing and taking off.

“Even the apron area has yet to be completed, and this is certainly another cause for concern. KLIA 2 has had a history of delays, from the earlier stipulated time completion of late 2011, to early 2012, then April 2013 and it now is June 28.

“I think the new date of June 28 is to give the contractors some more leverage. With three months left, its launching is still in doubt,” Pua added.

KLIA 2 is being built by main contractor Bina Puri Holdings Bhd and UEM.

Concern over control system

Nurul Izzah said following some problems with the National Air Traffic Control Centre in Subang in 2011, there were concerns that a similar problem may take place.

“As I understand, the system is not in place yet. However, following the problems with the Selex Sistemi Integrati (Selex) and Advanced Air Traffic Systems (M) Sdn Bhd (AAT), which was given the job of implementing the system, there is some cause for concern.”

It was reported on July 20 that AAT was awarded the contract for the second control tower, despite the company allegedly failing to meet the tender requirements.

Last June, it was reported that there were problems with the Subang Airport air traffic control system following a defective upgrade .

Nurul Izzah said there was certainly something to worry about with the same problematic company being awarded with the KLIA2 control tower project, “but we will wait and see”.

The Lembah Pantai MP and PKR vice-president, also voiced her concern that even if the KLIA 2 terminal was ready, the planes could not go in there as the runaway, the control tower and other facilities were yet to be completed.

“Most of the commercial plots in KLIA 2 terminal have been taken up and this will affect businesses should there be a delay in its completion,” Nurul Izzah said, adding that MAHB and Kong should attend to the issues raised and alleviate the problems.