KK airport ‘unsafe for landing, takeoff, other operations’

Transport Ministry however strongly refutes GUSB's claim that the KKIA runway is unsafe for landing and take-off.

FULL REPORT

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) has been declared unsafe for all operations by the private contractor undertaking upgrading work there.

Global Upline Sdn Bhd, the contractor engaged by the government to undertake the expansion and resurfacing of the existing runway, announced yesterday that it had stopped work on the project “in the interest of safety to aircraft operations and passengers alike”.

“We would like to inform the public that the runway is not safe for landing, takeoff and other operations since it has been certified non-complete by Transport Ministry,” Global Upline Sdn Bhd (GUSB) chief adviser Ting Pek Khing said in a statement issued yesterday.

The fresh setback at the KKIA, barely a month after an uproar over malfunctioning runway lights brought the airport to a standstill, stranding thousands of domestic and international travellers for more than 48 hours, has caught many by surprise.

Ting blamed the ministry for the “unsafe” certification which he said is the logical conclusion as the company’s work had been certified as non-complete by the ministry.

He said the ministry had failed to fulfil its promise to issue a Certificate of Practical Completion (CPC) to GUSB upon completion of section one of the works in Package 2 of the project by April 30 this year.

“By April 30 this year GUSB had practically completed section one of the works by using its best financial endeavour and fully utilised its available resources.

“The ministry, however, refused to issue the CPC and subsequent release of 50% of the Banker’s Guarantee (BG) and instead, issued a Certificate of Non-Completion (CNC) and imposed Liquidated Damages (LAD),” he said in a statement here.

According to Ting, section one included runway extension, resurface of existing runway, new taxiways A, C, D, E and K, installation of a 7km high tension cable and three automated pump stations.

Apart from the KKIA project, Ting said the ministry had also refused to pay RM113 million contractual claim for the upgrade of Kuching International Airport and RM21 million for Labuan Airport, and left GUSB with no choice but to commence legal action to recover the outstanding payment.

Ministry: Runway safe
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Transport Ministry today “strongly” refuted GUSB’s claim that the KKIA runway was unsafe for landing and take-off, as well as on other airport operations.

“The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) as the authority of airport standards and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) as the operator of the airport have confirmed that KKIA fulfills the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for airport operations.”

“The inspection of KKIA runway is being continuously inspected and found to be in compliance to the standards, ready and safe to be used for aircraft operations,” the ministry statement said.

It said the Civil Aviation Department director-general has categorically advised the public not to be worried on the safety and security of the KKIA airport.

“The MOT has always put the safety and security of the passengers at its utmost priority, therefore the safety of passengers will not be compromised,” the statement said.

On another note the ministry, in response to GUSB press release yesterday regarding the KKIA upgrading works, said the contractor has failed to complete the total upgrading works within the stipulated contract period.

“Thus, the MOT issued a Certificate of Non Compliance (CNC)  and Liquidated and Ascertained Damages (LAD) to GUSB due to the fact that contractor has failed to complete all works in Section 1 by April 30, 2012 according to the Supplementary Agreement.

“The actions taken by the MOT on the contractor is in line with the terms and conditions of the contract,” the ministry statement added.

BN credibility at stake

GUSB’s claims come as a further blow to the credibility of the Barisan Nasional government which is already under fire in the state for the lengthy delay in completing crucial infrastructure projects.

The state’s main referral hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is more than a year behind schedule and several road works are also behind schedule.

This week the opposition lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the construction of a less than 1km stretch of road for almost RM15 million.

Dubbing it “Malaysia’s most expensive stretch of road”, the 0.9km single carriageway links the Sabah Foundation building with the state assembly building in the state capital. A total of RM14.9 million was paid for its construction.