Building of KLIA2 is the 'fastest and cheapest'

PARLIAMENT The construction of the KLIA2 terminal is the "cheapest and fastest" if compared to many other international airports, Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said today.

Abdul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat that the construction cost of the terminal, despite its delay, came to only RM89 per passenger.

"In Germany, an airport is being constructed at a cost of RM478 per passenger, and has been in construction for the past six-and-a-half years," he said when wrapping up for his ministry on the debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address.

Abdul Aziz (right) said the construction of KLIA2 was almost cheaper than the construction of the Changi International Airport in Singapore and the Hong Kong International Airport.

"In all the airports that are being constructed or have been constructed, we are the cheapest and fastest," he said.

However, Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) questioned the deputy minister's argument, since KLIA2 was a low-cost terminal and as such could not be compared with international full service airports.

"The old Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) cost RM232 million and accommodates 15 million passengers. So, why are we spending RM4 billion to build an airport to accommodate 45 million passengers?" Pua asked.

However, Abdul Aziz said the current growth of the airline industry meant that an airport cannot strictly be separated as a low-cost terminal compared to full service airports.

He said that many facilities in KLIA2 have been upgraded to accommodate the main user of the airport, AirAsia.