MACC has not contacted us over Aerotrain probe - MAHB

Summary

• MAHB managing director Izani Ghani repeats Transport Minister Anthony Loke's statement that the MACC is free to probe the RM456 million Aerotrain upgrade project.

• Starting tomorrow, Aerotrain services will be suspended from 9pm to 7am as part of a comprehensive action plan to address recurring disruptions.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) managing director Izani Ghani repeated Transport Minister Anthony Loke's remarks over MACC being free to probe the RM456 million Aerotrain upgrade project.

In a media briefing on the Aerotrain comprehensive action plan this morning, Izani (above) indicated MAHB's willingness to be investigated.

"I haven't received any request from them to come, but as an agency very much related to the government, we are open to cooperating with the agency," he said at the press conference after the briefing at Sama-Sama Hotel, KLIA.

The Aerotrain, which connects the main terminal and the satellite building at KLIA Terminal 1, has faced multiple interruptions since resuming operations in July after its upgrades were completed on June 30.

Its services were suspended for 28 months due to a rehaul that saw the replacement of its ageing fleet and infrastructure under MAHB’s RM742 million Airport Regeneration Plan.

Loke recently said the MACC is free to investigate the Aerotrain after the service interruptions that followed the upgrades.

On Oct 29, he pledged “punitive action” to ensure accountability from MAHB over the disruptions, urging MAHB to demand clarifications from the train service’s contractors.

Two days later, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) announced proposals to implement a comprehensive action plan.

Commenting on the plan, Izani said Aerotrain services will be suspended from 9pm to 7am every day starting tomorrow as part of measures to address recurring disruptions.

"Starting from tomorrow, we are going to implement this action plan, whereby the train service will be stopped temporarily between 9pm to 7am.

"We need about 10 hours daily just to make sure that we implement our plan," he said.

Buses will be deployed to ensure that passengers enjoy seamless connectivity between the KLIA main terminal and satellite buildings, he added.

Action plan stages

According to Izani, the first stage of the action plan would begin tomorrow, comprising inspection, testing, alignment, and verification for all the Aerotrain's systems.

"We anticipate this work will take about four weeks or a month or so, up to Dec 15.

"And then during the month, sometime in early December, we will commence stage two, the system and vehicle testing.

"Once we have completed stage one and two, that's where we proceed with trial operations under stage three," he said.

The third stage is expected to begin in the middle of December.

During the first two stages, Izani said MAHB will engage with independent assessors to review Aerotrain systems.

The plan was jointly developed by MAHB as well as Aerotrain contractors IJM-Pestech Joint Venture and Alstom.

Since its relaunch on July 1, the Aerotrain has experienced issues 19 times up to Sept 30.

The Aerotrain also underwent maintenance works between Aug 18 and 31, after which it resumed its 24-hour services.

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