Malaysia to build $540 mln budget air terminal

Malaysia to build $540 mln budget air terminal

The Associated Press
Published: March 11, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's government will build a new 2 billion ringgit ($540 million) low-cost air terminal by 2011, easing budget carrier AirAsia's concerns about its ability to continue growing, officials said Wednesday.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Managing Director Bashir Ahmad said the terminal will be built near the main Kuala Lumpur International Airport, with a capacity to handle 30 million passengers a year and should be ready by the second half of 2011.
"We've found the location and will be announcing it at the right time," he said.
AirAsia has said a new, bigger terminal is crucial to its survival with passenger traffic slated to reach 30 million and its fleet to grow to 184 planes by 2013.
The airline was worried because the existing terminal — also located near the main international airport — can accommodate only 15 million people annually and doesn't have enough aircraft parking bays.
The government last month rejected AirAsia's plan to build and operate a 1.6 billion ringgit ($432 million) budget terminal in southern Negeri Sembilan state after critics, including Malaysia Airports, voiced concerns it may undermine the main airport.
The government subsequently said it has allocated 2 billion ringgit to build a low-cost terminal near the main airport as part of a 60 billion ringgit ($16.2 billion) economic stimulus package unveiled Tuesday.
AirAsia officials couldn't be immediately reached Wednesday for comments.
The carrier's long-haul sister company, AirAsia X, launched Wednesday its first flight from Kuala Lumpur to London, marking a new stage in the group's international expansion.
The company said in a statement the inaugural flight took off for London's Stansted Airport with 286 passengers on board, after almost a two-year delay.
AirAsia X, which began operations in November 2007, currently flies to Australia and China. It is 48 percent owned by Aero Ventures, which is in turn part owned by AirAsia and AirAsia X founder Tony Fernandes. Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group and AirAsia each hold a 16 percent stake in AirAsia X.

Jakarta Post Article / Letter to TV3

Aerial View of Johor - Singapore Causeway by Google

Malacca-Sumatera bridge needs further studies

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 12/24/2008 11:12 AM | National
Deputy Malaysian prime minister Najib Tun Razak on Wednesday said the suggestion to construct a bridge between Malacca and Sumatra would need more comprehensive studies.

One of the areas that needed further study, Razak said, would be the cost of construction, quoted in the local press to be at least US$11 billion.

Malaccan governor Mohammad Ali said the 52km-bridge would be the longest in the world, and would benefit both regions' economies, kompas.com reported Tuesday.

"We need to study the initiative carefully and then suggest the plan to both governments. We need to see if the budget is acceptable to both parties and estimate how much profit would be generated (from the bridge)," he said.

The project initiators are currently looking for foreign investors to finance the massive bridge, Ali said.

______________________________________________________________________

I sent an email to TV3 with the following information :
My comments :

As though he has run out of ideas, Ali Rustam's Malacca / Sumatera bridge proposal will wreck the Malaysian economy in no time at all. It would be better to revive the Mahathir Causeway project at any given choice.

I personally feel that it is better to build the fastest Kuala Lumpur - Malacca City train similar to the ERL that plies between KL Sentral and KLIA. The terminal from KLIA can continue south to Malacca from there.
In that sense, the MSC development will be further enhanced. There is no need to see traffic jams during the annual Hari Raya balik kampung syndrome. Tourists and students can use the train without much hassle . Singaporeans can travel to KL more conveniently too in huge numbers thus reducing the number of vehicles along the highway.In other words we need quality tourists and visitors not ********* and ********.

Why built a bridge ( to Sumatera ) when there is no surety of profits and project viability ? Sometimes when our leaders think out of the box, they also stumble into the water ( in the Melaka Straits lah). And if ever another tsunami strike again it will be the costliest bridge ever destroyed.
Spending US 11 billion is no joke.No wonder the opposition are always after our government.