AirAsia denies asking too much

AirAsia denies asking too much

AirAsia denies asking too much

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

29 April 2014| last updated at 12:17AM
By ELVINA FERNANDEZ | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: LOW-COST carrier AirAsia Bhd denied making several demands that allegedly led to cost overruns at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said yesterday.

Chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said there were many contradictions between the statements by Malaysia Airports Bhd and AirAsia, and the committee would investigate them further. He said the committee might have to sit down and discuss with MAHB again on the contradictions.

"The airline also said it did not refuse to move to klia2, but with 500 flights a day, they have their concerns," he said in Parliament after a meeting with AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and AirAsia Bhd chief executive officer Aireen Omar.

Nur Jazlan revealed that AirAsia had denied demanding a bigger terminal, 76 plane parking bays exclusive for itself, a museum and a spa. Other alleged demands, which AirAsia also denied during the meeting with PAC, included the construction of aerobridges and the implementation of the automatic baggage system.

"Moving operations to the new airport in a short period of time is not easy for them," Nur Jazlan said, adding that the airline also had raised concerns over the safety of passengers and aircraft.

"AirAsia showed us pictures, dated April 3, of the aircraft apron portion at the parking bay that was not level. When it rains heavily, the area accumulates water."

Nur Jazlan said there would be operational hiccups that AirAsia said it expected to experience, adding that while there should be remedial works, the problem was carrying it out when operations had started.

"AirAsia provides 80 per cent of flights in KLIA and LCCT, as the biggest customer of klia2, why would it make false claims?

"They have legitimate concerns as shown in the documented evidence," he said, adding that he did not believe that AirAsia was making things difficult for anyone.

Nur Jazlan said the committee would listen to both sides before coming up with a report to be submitted to Parliament.

Fernandes said the 31/2-hour meeting went well and eight issues were brought up by AirAsia.

"For the first time, AirAsia had a good chance to present our case and views, our side of the story, and we want to thank PAC for allowing us to do so."

PAC chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed says he does not believe that AirAsia is making things difficult for anyone

Obama leaves lasting impression

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

29 April 2014| last updated at 11:56PM
By BALQIS NASIR AND MASTURA YUSOFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: UNITED States President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia may have lasted all of three days, but it    left a lasting impact on many Malaysians.

His visit, the first by a sitting US president since 1966, captured the imagination of the people, who felt that it marked a memorable chapter in the nation's history. Apart from meeting Malaysian government leaders, Obama also visited Masjid Negara and fielded questions from young Malaysians at a town hall event in Universiti Malaya.

He ended his trip yesterday morning and departed via the presidential jet, Air Force One, for Manila, the Philippines, from the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang. Present to send him off were Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Philippines will be Obama's final stop in his four-nation tour of Asia, which had earlier included Japan and South Korea.

White House national security adviser Susan Rice, who accompanied Obama, described the trip on Twitter as not only having cemented the relationship between the nations, but also having fostered closer bonds between their peoples.

"US-Malaysia relationship greatly transformed as President Obama and Prime Minister (Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) have opened (a) new era of cooperation. We are deepening (our) partnership with (the Malaysian) government -- but we greatly value our relationship with all of the people of Malaysia," she posted under the Twitter handle, @AmbassadorRice.

Malaysians took to social media to thank Obama.

On Facebook, Linda Khor wrote: "Thank you, Mr President Obama, for (the) good advice to all young Malaysians. It is not easy to change people's mindset. Have a safe journey and take care, sir."

Renie Martha Joanes wrote: "Thanks, Obama. Come and visit us again. Have a safe journey."

Hema Rani wrote: "Have a safe journey, sir. Thank you for visiting Malaysia and God bless you for helping us in (the) MH370 (search-and-recovery mission)."

Johan Abdullah wrote: "Thank you, Mr Obama, for the US' assistance in helping in the search for MH370. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Let's not wait another 50 years before another US president visits."

United States President Barack Obama waving goodbye aboard Air Force One at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang yesterday. Pic by Aizuddin Saad

Aviation policy in pipeline

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

29 April 2014| last updated at 11:53PM
By EUNICE AU | euniceau@nst.com.my

The policy will include improvements in the current air traffic management system and upgrading of airports, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

However, he cautioned that such improvements and developments in the aviation industry would not succeed if the nation did not have a competent labour force.

"Our biggest challenge is how capable are we in developing and preparing human capital in this industry.

"Having a skilled local workforce, with creative capabilities, industrial experience and proper management will convince the industry that we have the best among the human talent," he said during a Boeing 737 aircraft handover ceremony from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to Politeknik Banting Selangor.

It is estimated that Malaysia will require a skilled workforce with at least 10,000 technicians in aircraft maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) by next year, he added.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the MRO Diploma programme carried out in polytechnics since 2006 was a positive step by the government to cater to human resource demands in the industry.

"The aviation industry is experiencing rapid growth in Asia-Pacific. It is expected to grow to 200 per cent in 20 years."

He expressed gratitude to MAS for cooperating with the ministry in its effort to develop quality and competent human capital in the MRO field.

"MAS' willingness in contributing a used Boeing 737 to the Education Ministry is much appreciated.

"It proves that cooperation can help improve the quality in the teaching and learning process in MRO practical work," Muhyiddin said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (left) with Malaysia Airlines' chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof (second from left) and Department of Polytechnic Education director-general Datuk Mohlis Jaafar (third from left) in the Boeing 737 at Politeknik Banting Selangor yesterday. Bernama pic

Chemical tanker catches fire

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

29 April 2014| last updated at 11:40PM

No injuries were reported.

All 11 crew members on board the tanker were rescued by marine policemen.

Port Klang marine police commanding officer Deputy Superintendent Norzaid Muhammad Said said MT Nur Eye 1's engine room, open bridge and the stern were destroyed in the fire.

Klang Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency chief Captain Christopher Ravindran Dass said the 95m-long ship caught fire while docking at the port.

"The 11 crew members and contractors were rescued and taken to shore by the marine police."

MMEA did not receive any report on oil spills in the waters as a result of the fire.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohd Sani Harul said firefighters took four hours to bring the fire under control.

A chemical tanker, MT Nur Eye 1, is doused by another ship after the tanker, carrying marine fuel, caught fire off Northport, Klang, yesterday.

Camerons tomato glut

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

29 April 2014| last updated at 11:46PM
By SYLVIA LOOI | sylvialooi@nst.com.my

CAMERON HIGHLANDS:  EVERY day since last month,    100 tonnes of tomatoes have gone to  waste because of     oversupply.

Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Growers Association secretary-general Chay Ee Mong said the glut started after the farm price of tomatoes hit RM4 per kg in December last year.

"Suddenly, tomatoes became an attractive commodity to plant and, at one time, there were between 300 and 400 farmers planting tomatoes," he said here yesterday.

He said the price of tomatoes had dropped to between 20 sen and 30 sen because of the glut, adding that the highlands' daily output of the fruit was 300 tonnes.

"We can sell only 200 tonnes, so the rest has to be disposed of."

The association, said Chay, had asked the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to step in to arrest the slide in price.

"Fama has agreed to increase its intake to 15 tonnes weekly from four tonnes."

Chay said Fama was buying the fruit from farmers at 80 sen per kg.

He said the situation would improve when Thailand started importing tomatoes from Malaysia.

"We expect exports to start in June."

To avoid a similar incident from recurring, Chay reminded farmers to conduct market research before planting produce.

"Do not blame others when the vegetables you plant do not fetch a good price."

Tomato farmer S. Nanthakumar, 32, said he had no choice but to dump his produce.

"We cannot afford to pay the transport cost to send the tomatoes outside Cameron Highlands."

Discarded tomatoes in a landfill near Lambakan buah Tomato yang dibuang dikawasan tapak pelupusan sampah Cameron Highlands yesterday. Pic by Supian Ahmad

Malaysia gets wide, positive coverage

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

29 April 2014| last updated at 12:20AM

The New York Times, in its wrap-up edition, highlighted how much Malaysia had changed since the visit by former vice-president Al Gore in 1998. Its writer, Mark Lander, who is also White House correspondent, commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for being a democratic leader and the change of the country's attitude towards the United States had evolved from deep-seated suspicion to a cautious desire for cooperation.

The multi-award winning newspaper also highlighted Obama's concern for Malaysia's human rights record, but was quick to explain that Najib had indeed acknowledged that Malaysia still got some work to do on those issues, just like the US.

The paper also quoted a White House official as saying that Malaysia was "a model for the rest of the region". The official likened Malaysia to a "swing state" in Southeast Asia, falling between the freewheeling democracy of the Philippines and the rigid, one-party authoritarianism of Laos.

USA Today and Bloomberg highlighted Obama defending the Malaysian government's handling of the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. Both quoted the president as saying that the US and other partners found the Malaysian government eager for assistance and had been fully forthcoming in sharing information.

The Wall Street Journal and China's Xinhua daily drew attention to the agreement between both countries to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive partnership.

They said this would allow greater collaboration on economic, security and technology matters, and enhance dialogue in various areas.

They also touched on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, of which Obama insisted that countries needed to wait and see before deciding if it would bring negative impact, and that he was not surprised that there were objections, protests and rumours around it.

News coverage on the websites of American newpapers on President Barack Obama's visit to Malaysia.