The aerotrain system at KLIA has been suspended since March 2023, and Loke said that despite the aerotrains being under MAHB’s purview, he has been receiving daily complaints about them.
Loke today said that the aerotrain system is still being tested by the contractors despite MAHB previously stating that the project would be completed by Jan 31.
“I have to put on record that I am not happy with many things at MAHB. A lot of issues remain unanswered and have been delayed. The aerotrain is an example,” Loke said at a press conference today.
“The aerotrains are still being tested and we do not know when the tests will be completed. They are doing dynamic testing now, and after that they will move on to full system testing and then integrate the systems.
“Only then will the aerotrains be handed over. They have yet to give a firm date, but before this, it was said that it would be completed by Jan 31.”
Last June, MAHB said the aerotrain replacement project at KLIA is slated to be completed by Jan 31, 2025, ahead of the project’s original planned completion date.
Gateway Development Alliance Sdn Bhd (GDA), the consortium proposing to privatise Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), last month said that MAHB’s prolonged underperformance, both operationally and financially relative to peers, suggests execution of its plans will remain a challenge.
“…MAHB does not have a credible track record of delivery on its promises,” it said.
GDA also gave an example of the suspension of the aerotrain, saying that MAHB has been working on a replacement project from as far back as 2017 after several service failures, but the contract for the project was only awarded in December 2021.
GDA said prolonged underinvestment had also resulted in MAHB’s network of airports suffering in both the maintenance of core assets and systems, as well as in new projects to expand capacity.
“We see the potential to do better. That’s why Khazanah decided to privatise MAHB – so decisions can be made faster and more capex can be spent,” said Loke during today’s press conference.
“We have the potential, and we hope more can be done quickly.”