Uncertainty continues over KLIA2 opening

Uncertainty continues over KLIA2 openingThe opening of KLIA2 airport has been delayed several times from September 2011 to the current deadline of May 2, 2014, however the uncertainty over the project continues and many doubt if the KLIA2 will be opened on time till the deadline, which is just 30 days away.

Reports showed that there is still no certainty if KLIA2 will become operational next month. Government ministers including acting minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, and his deputy, Abdul Aziz Kaprawi as well as senior management officials form the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) have repeatedly assured that the project will meet deadlines, but the project has already missed several deadline and doubts remains over the ability of the project to meet its current deadline.

The project was initially expected to cost only RM1.7 billion in July 2007 but budget was subsequently increased to RM2.0 billion in March 2009 and then RM2.5 billion in October 2010, according to media reports in the country. MAHB has since said that the cost of building the airport would be around RM3.9 billion due to cost overruns in November 2011.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes had claimed that the cost of developing the airport has increased to RM5 billion but the claims were brushed aside by the authorities in the country.