19-05-10: TRC Synergy unit secures RM45m job for Kota Bharu airport

TRC Synergy unit secures RM45m job for Kota Bharu airport

Written by The Edge Financial Daily

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 18:14

KUALA LUMPUR: TRC SYNERGY BHD's unit Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd has secured a RM45 million contract to upgrade the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Bharu. TRC said on Wednesday, May 19 its unit received the letter of acceptance from Wira Akil Holdings Sdn Bhd on Monday. "The letter of acceptance from Wira Akil is subsequent to an award being given by the Ministry of Transport to Wira Akil whereby TRC is named as the sub-contractor for the project," it said. SOURCE: THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (19-05-2010) Sumber: The Edge Financial Daily (19-05-2010)

25-03-2010: Ong: Airports to be upgraded (Kota Bharu Airport)

Thursday March 25, 2010

Ong: Airports to be upgraded

AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

Reports by ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN, ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD AND YENG AI CHUN

The Government has allocated RM250mil to upgrade the Bayan Lepas airport, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said.

He told Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) that the authorities had identified the problems affecting the airport and rectification works were being carried out.

“The allocation to carry out repairs and upgrading works at the Penang airport has been given out. Maybe you have not read the Hansard on the matter,” Ong added.

The MP had asked whether the Government would upgrade Bayan Lepas Airport since it was considered one of the country’s international gateways.

Earlier, Ong told Datuk Wan Abd Rahim Wan Abdullah (PAS -Kota Baru) that the ministry was currently negotiating with the Finance Ministry on the financing of upgrading works at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Baru.

He said work on the airport would begin in June and was expected to be completed by October 2011.

Ong was replying to Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS - Tumpat), who had asked whether the airport runway would be lengthened.

“I was told by pilots, especially from AirAsia, that the Airbus 330 is heavier than the Boeing 737. They said the runway is short, and this might give problems to pilots trying to land their aircraft there. We are also concerned about the safety of passengers,” Kamaruddin said.

Ong replied that the ministry had already included the lengthening of the runway in the overall upgrading of the airport.

“The length will be increased from 1.98km to 2.4km to accommodate the landing of more types of commercial aircraft,” he added.

SOURCE: THE STAR ~ 25-03-2010
Sumber: The Star ~ 25-03-2010

New Ipoh airport strategy

IPOH: The Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here will serve as a feeder airport to other airports in the region as it cannot compete with Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang and the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state would have to redefine its strategy for the airport.

"We have to re-define our strategy... not competing, but as a feeder airport to link to other airports in the country and region to attract visitors and investors," he said after launching Silver Fly Sdn Bhd's website and privilege card at the Sultan Azlan Shah airport here yesterday.

Silver Fly is a low-cost carrier operating two ATR-72 aircraft from Berjaya Air to service their routes.

Currently, Silver Fly operates flights to Medan (twice a week), Kota Bharu (twice a week) and Subang (once a week). It will be flying to Singapore from April 1.

Silver Fly is the second airline to operate from the airport. Firefly flies from Ipoh to Singapore daily.

The company's executive chairman, Hasim Othman, said the airline was in talks to increase its routes to other countries.

Zambry said the airport's runway would also be extended with the RM60 million allocation approved by the Federal Government.

"I have spoken to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to speed up the work on the project. I do not know when work will start but it is a priority project for the state."

Silver Fly marketing executive Immie Noor Mariyani Mat Salle showing the special Silver Fly card at the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh.

SOURCE: The New Straits Times | 17 March 2010 |

06-03-2010: Kelantan Sasar 4.7 Juta Pelancong Tahun Ini

Berita Timur

March 06, 2010 21:28 PM

Kelantan Sasar 4.7 Juta Pelancong Tahun Ini

KOTA BAHARU, 6 Mac (Bernama) -- Kerajaan negeri mensasarkan 4.7 juta pelancong melawat Kelantan tahun ini, kurang daripada jumlah yang dicatat sepanjang tahun lepas.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan negeri Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan berkata pada tahun lepas seramai 4.9 pelancong melawat negeri ini, melebihi daripada sasaran awal kerajaan negeri iaitu 4.5 juta.

"Kami berharap bilangan sasaran itu melepasi sasaran sebagaimana dialami tahun lepas," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyambut ketibaan penerbangan sulung Silver Fly, syarikat penerbangan tambang murah milik Berjaya Air di Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra, Pengkalan Chepa, di sini hari Sabtu.

Turut hadir Pengerusi Eksekutif syarikat itu Hashim Othman. Beliau berkata Kelantan dijangka dapat menarik lebih ramai pelancong terutama dengan adanya penerbangan terus dari sini ke destinasi negara jiran, seperti Kota Baharu-Medan-Ipoh, yang dikendalikan Silver Fly.

Takiyuddin turut menafikan dakwaan pihak tertentu bahawa kebanyakan pelancong yang datang ke negeri ini hanya sebagai pelancong persinggahan bukannya yang benar-benar melawat Kelantan.

SOURCE (Sumber): Bernama (Berita Timur): 06-03-2010

06-02-2010: LTAM jadi pusat ketibaan pekerja asing

LTAM jadi pusat ketibaan pekerja asing

MELAKA 5 Feb. - Kerajaan Pusat sedia mempertimbangkan rancangan untuk menjadikan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Melaka (LTAM) yang baru dilancarkan semalam sebagai lokasi ketibaan pekerja asing.

Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam (gambar) berkata, jika keputusan tersebut dipersetujui oleh Kabinet, semua ketibaan pekerja asing akan dipindahkan dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) ke LTAM di Batu Berendam.

Menurutnya, jaminan itu diberikan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak selepas merasmikan lapangan terbang itu dan melakukan lawatan kerja ke Melaka semalam.

Mohd. Ali berkata, sehubungan itu, kerajaan negeri akan mengadakan rundingan dengan Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. (MAHB) berhubung perkara itu tidak lama lagi.

Katanya, Pengarah Urusan MAHB, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad juga bersetuju untuk mengadakan perbincangan lanjut mengenai cadangan menjadikan LTAM sebagai sebagai tempat ketibaan pekerja asing itu.

"Jika kerajaan dan MAHB membenarkan LTAM dijadikan sebagai balai ketibaan pekerja asing, pergerakan LTAM akan menjadi lebih baik.

"Apa pun keputusan belum dibuat dan ia masih di peringkat perbincangan.

"Jika menjadi kenyataan, bukan sahaja pekerja asing tiba tetapi juga apabila mereka ingin pulang ke negara masing-masing, mereka mesti menggunakan LTAM," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan pelancaran Pusat Beli-Belah AEON Bandaraya Melaka di sini hari ini.

Semalam Perdana Menteri merasmikan LTAM yang bernilai RM131 juta pada satu majlis penuh gemilang disaksikan kira-kira 2,000 penduduk di negeri ini.

Perasmian itu adalah sebahagian acara lawatan kerja sehari Najib yang pertama ke negeri ini selepas dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri, April tahun lalu.

Di samping itu Mohd. Ali berkata, kerajaan Pusat juga akan menimbang permintaan kerajaan negeri untuk mengurangkan kadar caj servis penumpang syarikat penerbangan yang menggunakan LTAM dari RM52 kepada RM25 seorang.

"Pada dasarnya, Perdana Menteri memberitahu saya kadar caj RM25 seperti yang diminta oleh kerajaan negeri akan dibawa ke mesyuarat Kabinet terlebih dahulu," katanya.

Sehubungan itu beliau berkata, jika permintaan itu diluluskan oleh kerajaan, semua syarikat penerbangan seperti Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS), AirAsia, Firefly dan beberapa syarikat lain bersedia untuk beroperasi di LTAM.

Ujarnya, pada masa ini, MAHB memberi potongan harga kepada mana-mana syarikat penerbangan yang ingin beroperasi di LTAM dari RM52 kepada RM22 untuk tempoh setahun dan cajnya akan dikembalikan kepada caj asal selepas itu.

SOURCE (Sumber): Utusan Malaysia Online (Dalam Negeri): 06-02-2010

05-02-2010: Make Malacca airport soar

Friday February 5, 2010

Make Malacca airport soar

MALACCA: The Malacca Government has been asked to formulate strategies to promote the new Malacca International Airport as the main gateway for visitors from neighbouring countries and to optimise its usage.

Speaking when opening the airport in Batu Berendam here, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the airport had modern facilities to attract tourists, including medical tourists, and investors.

“This is the advantage of having an airport. There will be an increase in the number of visitors and investors while medical tourism will also see an upturn,” he said.

It’s official: Najib stamping his mark after opening the Malacca International Airport in Batu Berendam yesterday. Among those witnessing the opening is Mohd Ali (at the Prime Minister’s right) and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha (right).

Najib, who is on a one-day visit to the state, earlier arrived on a special aircraft at the airport which the Government plans to turn into a hub for medical tourism.

He said among the aspects which the state government should focus on was connectivity by attracting more airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and AirAsia to operate from there.

New destinations, such as Medan in Indonesia, should also be identified, he added. Among the earliest airlines to operate at the airport was Indonesia’s Riau Airlines, serving the Pekan Baru-Melaka sector, he said.

Najib said the “Malacca” brand was renowned internationally due to its historical heritage.

He said developing modern elements such as the airport would further put Malacca prominently on the global map, adding that the aviation sector had a huge multiplying effect to the tune of 12.5 times.

At a news conference later at Seri Bendahara, after meeting Malacca Barisan Nasional leaders, Najib was asked on the Malacca government’s proposal that the RM60mil loan from the Federal Government to upgrade the airport be converted into assistance.

“We’ll see,” Najib said, adding that it would be discussed with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said the airport would be among the busiest airports in Malaysia as there were also non-commercial flights, run by the Malaysian Flying Academy, operating there.

Last year, the Malacca airport handled 23,751 passengers.

SOURCE (Sumber): The Star Online: 05-02-2010

05-02-2010: LTAM perlu tarik syarikat penerbangan

ARKIB : 05/02/2010

LTAM perlu tarik syarikat penerbangan

MELAKA 4 Feb. - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mahu kerajaan negeri merangka strategi pengisian khusus bagi Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Melaka (LTAM) di Batu Berendam bernilai RM131 juta dapat dimanfaatkan oleh semua syarikat penerbangan tempatan dan luar negara.

Perdana Menteri berkata, pengisian utama yang perlu diberikan penekanan ialah menarik lebih banyak syarikat penerbangan seperti Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS), FireFly dan AirAsia serta syarikat dari luar negara beroperasi di lapangan terbang ini.

Berucap merasmikan LTAM, di sini hari ini, Najib berkata, lapangan terbang serba moden itu wajar digunakan pada tahap maksimum terutama bagi menarik lebih ramai pelancong, pelancong kesihatan dan pelabur sekali gus memastikan negeri Melaka akan lebih maju dan tersohor di peta dunia.

''Inilah kebaikan dengan adanya LTAM di mana pelabur juga mudah datang ke negara ini melalui Melaka dan pekerja asing boleh menggunakan lapangan terbang ini sebagai pintu masuk," katanya.

LTAM yang terletak kira-kira 10 kilometer dari bandar raya ini dinaik taraf seperti pemanjangan landasan dari 1,372 meter kepada 1,800 meter menempatkan bangunan utama terminal, menara kawalan, unit bomba dan penyelamat dan pusat kawalan kaji cuaca.

Pada masa ini, syarikat penerbangan yang menggunakan perkhidmatan LTAM ialah Riau Air Airlines yang menawarkan penerbangan Melaka-Pekan Baru-Melaka.

Mengulas lanjut, Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau mahu kerajaan negeri mencari destinasi baharu untuk penerbangan terus ke negeri ini terutama dari Medan dan Padang.

Sementara itu berucap pada majlis yang sama, Mohd. Ali berkata, pelancongan kesihatan merupakan salah satu daripada 12 sub sektor yang paling menonjol dengan mencatatkan kemasukan 70,815 pesakit dari luar negara pada 2008 dan 51,511 pada 2009.

''Majoriti pesakit adalah dari Indonesia kerana mereka tidak mempunyai kepakaran dari segi perubatan ditambah pula kos rawatan di negeri ini adalah separuh lebih rendah berbanding di Singapura dan Jakarta," katanya.

Tahun lepas, katanya, sumbangan dari sektor pelancong kesihatan dari Indonesia ialah sebanyak RM135 juta.

SOURCE (Sumber): Utusan Malaysia Online (Dalam Negeri): 05-02-2010