PARLIAMENT The Transport Ministry has assured that no additional cost has been incurred for the completion of the controversial KLIA2 low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT), despite the project’s lengthy delay.

NONEThis was stated in a written reply to a question submitted by Hee Loy Sian (PKR-PJ Selatan, left) in Parliament yesterday.

Hee had wanted to know when the RM4 billion project will be completed, how much has already been spent and the amount of additional cost that would be needed as a result of the construction delay.

“The cost of the project was set at RM4 billion and as much as RM3 billion has been paid to the contractor.

“No additional cost are needed due to the delay,” the ministry stated in its reply.

It also stated that the contractor had given the new completion date for the project as April 30, 2014, while the opening date for the new terminal was set for May 2 of next year, following a safety building inspection.

'Allow Pakatan in monitoring committee'

NONEMeanwhile, in a statement, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (right) has asked that the opposition be permitted to join the monitoring team set up by the ministry to keep an eye on the project, for the “benefit of the majority” and in view of the major increase in cost.

The special committee to oversee the progress of the construction of the new LCCT to prevent any additional delays was recently announced by acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and will be led by deputy minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi.

“We also ask that an independent audit be carried out by the ministry to identity the cause of the delays, including by consultant KLIA Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd, a Finance Ministry-owned (30 percent) company which should have been more strict in monitoring and curbing any VO (Variation Order),” she said in her statement today.

Hishamuddin had stated in Parliament last week that the project delay has caused no financial impact on Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).

Nurul, however, pointed out that at one time, MAHB had insisted that KLIA2 will be completed by June 28, 2013.

“Now, after being pressured by us (PKR), then only did it admit to delays in carrying out the project, with the new date given as April 30, 2014,” she said.

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