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KKIA expected to be ready by year-end

Date Posted: 22 Jun 2009

KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu International Airport is expected to be fully completed by the end of this year.

Currently, it is 86 per cent completed, said Chief Inspector-General of Sabah, Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Datu Mustapa after attending the project’s progress briefing by KLIA Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd manager Mohd Fadhil Ramli yesterday.

Amir Kahar said efforts are under way to overcome existing problems affecting the RM1.4 billion KKIA extension works on the 101.89-hectare land.

“Even the economic gloom did not affect the operations that much…for now, we are slightly ahead but we cannot predict that the project would be completed earlier as there are other issues to be considered such as the unpredictable weather,” he said.

Amir Kahar has been given the responsibility to audit and inspect the various projects and developments being undertaken in the state so as to ensure that all are completed on time and on budget.

“In my position, I have been monitoring many projects within Sabah, especially those that have the ability to create outgoing employment and to increase the standard of living and economic opportunities for the people and businesses in the state,” he said.

He said the KKIA project is one of the largest projects undertaken in the state in recent times and incorporates innovative design features with the use of high-tech materials and modern construction methods.

“After my inspection and audit of the KKIA, I have found it as one of the finest projects undertaken within Sabah, and when completed will stand as a major tribute to the efforts and abilities of the people and the state government to undertake and complete major projects successfully,” he said.

The project, he added, stands as solid and concrete testimony of the state government’s on-going commitment to modernise Sabah and its growing infrastructure system while at the same time increasing the state’s social, economic and living standards.

All this, he added, is in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept by creating employment and increasing development within Sabah.

“I believe the new KKIA should even now, before its full completion, be promoted extensively in international and domestic markets as the major destination and gateway to Sabah, and all its full attractions that it has to offer, as well as the rest of Borneo Island,” he said.

The successful completion of KKIA would create multiple benefits and opportunities as the increase in tourism, freight and exports would create more jobs outside the airport as well, he added.

(Source: The Borneo Post, 20 Jun 2009)

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