AIRPORT operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has taken possession of Runway 3, one of the major components for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) project in Sepang, Selangor.
The Runway 3 contract worth RM291.2 million was awarded to Gadang Holdings Bhd in 2010. The job includes building taxiways, site preparation, earthworks and main drainage.
Gadang completed the job last month and handed it over to MAHB on August 28.
With the completion of Runway 3, Gadang managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Kok Onn said the company is now eyeing earthwork packages for projects under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).
“We are upbeat on winning some jobs. We are confident to take on bigger jobs after completing Runway 3 within schedule and on budget,” he told Business Times.
Kok said working on the KLIA2 project has been one of the biggest achievements for Gadang.
“There were a lot of challenges because of the soil condition.
“We were supervised by our consultant and had full support from MAHB. MAHB has acknowledged that we did a good job and they are happy with the result,” Kok said.
Gadang, which has RM1.5 billion in its order book, will look for similar earthwork projects in Malaysia, he added.
Runway 3 at KLIA2 is important due to the anticipated growth of aviation traffic in Asia Pacific. The 4km runway can support the A330 and B747 aircraft and will specifically cater to AirAsia Bhd’s expansion plans.
It will help to ease congestion, reduce taxing time and serve as a backup in the event that Runways 1 or 2 are closed.
An official from MAHB said with the opening of the KLIA2 by April next year, it is anticipated that existing low-cost carriers will increase their flight frequency and new airlines are expected to come in.
The RM4 billion KLIA2 will be the world’s largest purpose-built terminal for low-cost carriers and will have the capacity to serve 45 million passengers annually.
The opening of KLIA2 will help make the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as one of the aviation hubs in Southeast Asia.
Source: Business Times Dated: 10/9/2012
