Decision on KKIA Terminal Two as a cargo airport stays

Kota Kinabalu: Terminal Two of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport will be made a cargo airport as planned after AirAsia moves its operations to Terminal One which is now being upgraded.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said there was no change to plans to make Terminal Two a dedicated cargo facility.

"The terminal now is used by AirAsia and we want them to move to the main terminal, as we have already complied with all their requirements for this purpose," he said, Wednesday.

They are renting the space from Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) anyway and the move can help them save some overhead costs, he added.

Towards this end he explained there was a delay in the moving of AirAsia's operations due to the late completion of KKIA's upgrading works and the time the Royal Sabah Turf Club took to finally move out.

"The renovation of the terminal is now on-going but it may take a while to complete as the runways are still operating É workers can only start work before and after the airport operations every day.

"However we hope the benefits of merging the terminals and setting up of a new cargo area can be felt soon."

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Sabah tourism centres to ban plastic bags

KOTA KINABALU: All tourism centres under Sabah government agencies will be barred from using plastic bags in an effort to conserve the environment.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the ruling was expected to be enforced by early next year.

“We have already sent a directive to all tourism centres under the ministry to switch to recycled bags, which are environmentally friendly,” he said after opening a seminar on the Environment and Plastic Bags.

“We are also asking hotels as well as private tourist companies to stop the use of plastic bags,” he said.

Masidi said some tourism outlets were already banning plastic bags.

He said one example was Lok Kawi Zoo where the ban had been practised.

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Sabah delegates promote investment tourism in EU

Kota Kinabalu: Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap and his team took the opportunity to promote investment opportunities in Sabah and its tourism attractions during the recent Dewan Negara members' visit to the European Union (EU).

"I feel satisfied that I did my part to promote Sabah because every time I met dignitaries, I give them promotional brochures about investments and tourism in Sabah.

"To some European countries, as far as tourism is concerned, Malaysia means Sabah and Sarawak. They are attracted and fascinated by what we have to offer here to tourists," he said.

As part of the six-member delegation, Maijol believed the visit to the Czech Republic and Belgium was a success.

"The delegation met with high offices in those countries, to discuss economic and trade relations with Malaysia and the EU and development in Asean," he said in a statement here Tuesday.

"I have gained good experience during the visit. Our delegation met with Premysl Sobotkca, the President of the Czech Senate, Jan Fischer, the Prime Minister of Czech Republic, Jerzy Buze, the President of the European Parliament in Brussels and Armand DeDecker, the President of the Belgium Senate," he said.

"Beside that, our delegation also held discussions with Vital Moreira, the Chairman of the International Trade Committee of the European Parliament, and Heidi Hautala, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee of the European Parliament," he said.

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Kota Kinabalu International Airport job delay

Kota Kinabalu: Upgrading work on the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) - Malaysia's second busiest - is now expected to be completed by May, next year, about a year behind schedule.

A combination of delays involving Package 1 and Package 2 of the RM1.4 billion project saw the completion date initially being pushed to Dec. 15 but further delays have pushed it to May.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun was on Tuesday given a briefing by Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB), which has called on the two contractors for the respective packages to deliver the project on time.

"But looking at the schedule, tentatively, I assume the new airport would be fully operational by the end of May (next year)," he said.

"The first package should be doing really well despite hiccups. As you know it took some time for the Royal Sabah Turf Club (RSTC) to move out and it has held up a lot of work but now they (MAB) have been able to take possession of the site and (allow the contractor) continue with that part of the job. The other contractor will do likewise."

Masidi said MAB had met with both contractors "who were not at the full speed of work at this point of time" to find out further reasons for the delay.

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Bina puri is planning RM1.5b Sabah resort

Kuala Lumpur: Bina Puri Holdings Bhd is planning a luxury resort development in Kota Kinabalu that could cost more than RM1.5 billion.

Bina Puri Construction Sdn Bhd (BPCSB) managing director Datuk Henry Tee Hock Hin, who oversees projects in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, said the development will feature hotels, resorts, high-end condominiums and villas.

Tee said it would be Bina Puri's first luxury development of such scale.

BPCSB is in talks with local developers and foreign parties, and a joint-venture company will be set up once all parties reach agreement.

"It is too early to say when the project will start, but we are looking at it seriously. What is important is to get the right partners in to build it together.

"We have seen a few parcels of land. BPCSB will ink some deals soon for the project," Tee said.

Continue reading at: Bina puri is planning RM1.5b Sabah resort
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