Prime Minister Najib Razak came in for a tongue-lashing by two young Opposition leaders for not being honest about the country's long-delayed new low-cost carrier, KLIA2.
"Malaysia Airports is run by an incompetent team of liars, who have failed to take responsibility for the cost overruns and the perpetual delays," Nurul Izzah, the MP for Lembah Pantai, and Tony Pua, the MP for PJ Utara, said at press conference on Monday.
"They are trying to save Najib's face," said Tony, when asked why MAHB if construction was still so far away from completion date would specify May as the latest deadline, and June 28 as the opening date to the public.
Malaysia Airports, or MAHB, is 40% owned by Khazanah Bhd, which is the government's investment that answers to the Finance Minister, a portfolio that is now being held by Najib himself.
Due to investor and public complaints, the public-listed firm has issued several statements about when it is due to deliver the project. On March 28, it confirmed the project was on schedule. On May 7, it retracted and said the delay was "indefinite". On May 14, the general manager Fawzy Ahmad said KLIA2 could only be ready by "4th quarter 2013".
But according to Nurul and Tony, the construction of KLIA2 is so far way from completion stage that MAHB may miss delivering the project by the year end. They showed pohotographs taken of site as at the first week of May, 2013. "Even the runway was not in sight," pointed out Tony.
Nurul and Tony want MAHB to announce the new deadline and come clean on the cost overruns. The project initially projected to cost RM1.7billion in 2007 is expected to cost RM4billion based of an official estimate at the end of last year. With the latest delay, chances are high that the final bill could hit R<4 .5="" billion.="" even="" or="" p="" rm5="">
Apart from costs, the Opposition leaders are also seeking a meeting with the MAHB to clarify the issue, which has sparked alarm and concern amongst a large group of users and consumers. They also want the Transport Ministry to conduct an audit of the project.
"Our reputation is at stake as Firefly, Malindo are expected to operate out of KLIA2 by May. So it is not just about MAHB as an entity but the commitments of the other parties who planned based on the schedule given by Malaysia Airports," said Nurul.
MORE TO COME
Malaysia Chronicle
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