Latest news with #NungsariAhmadRadhi
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Nungsari bullish on Kota Kinabalu International Airport's prospects
KUALA LUMPUR: The push for greater regional economic integration amid shifting global trade dynamics bodes well for the prospects of Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), thanks to its proximity to key East Asian markets and the broader Asean region. These factors position KKIA in a uniquely strategic position, which calls for a long-term development strategy, said Khazanah Research Institute chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. 'I am bullish about KKIA, and I think there has to be more conversations between the federal and state governments on the long-term development strategy of Kota Kinabalu as a transportation hub,' he said. 'KKIA is two hours closer to major East Asian markets such as the Philippines, Korea, China, and Japan than Kuala Lumpur. It is already growing as a passenger destination but has yet to develop as a cargo destination,' he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama. Nungsari, a former Malaysian Aviation Commission executive chairman, now serves as Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's non-independent non-executive chairman. 'There is also the significant infrastructure development under way in Kalimantan, primarily driven by the relocation of Indonesia's capital city to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Borneo is set to become the centre of gravity in the region and the development of KKIA must be carefully crafted, taking into account its potential growth and existing constraints,' he said. It was reported that the expansion of KKIA is set to begin in the third quarter of this year, following Cabinet approval of the RM442.3 million project in November. The expansion will increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from nine million to 12 million passengers a year. The upgrades include an expanded main terminal, a new multi-storey car park, seven additional aircraft parking bays and road improvements around the airport. While Kuching International Airport has similar ambitions, Nungsari acknowledged that it faces greater challenges than KKIA. Nevertheless, he remains confident in both airports' opportunities to strengthen Malaysia's aviation sector, triangulating the two ends of Kalimantan and the peninsula. On the international, front, US-China trade tensions and the many unilateral decisions taken by the US will change global trade in some significant ways. Regardless of the outcome, Asean has to consolidate further to be able to respond to these changes as a single bloc. Key to this economic integration is transportation and logistics within the region, as well as connecting it to the outside world. Furthermore, intra-Asean trade growth depends on greater connectivity within the region. Asean has had various initiatives, namely the Asean Economic Community, Asean FTA, Asean+3, and it is also part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership encompassing 15 countries in Asean, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The potential of these initiatives has mainly remained unfulfilled, and the time is right to make it all happen. Nungsari posited that greater flows of people and goods across the borders within Asean will strengthen Asean as an economic bloc. 'The focus now is so much on border controls instead of promoting greater flows of goods. This division does not promote economic growth and integration. There should be more bilateral initiatives, such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, and past initiatives such as the IMT-GT and BIMP-Eaga should be rejuvenated,' he said. Nungsari also said that economic integration is beyond infrastructure, as Asean should move towards becoming a customs union to allow free movement of goods within the region. He said this would allow small and medium enterprises all over the region to leverage a much larger demand side, beyond their national borders. 'It will also make Asean an attractive market in which to invest. A single market of 600 million people, in fact, is not just in potential (but) a significant leverage against the size of China or India,' he said. Responding to a question about the ongoing geopolitical tug-of-war between the US and China, Nungsari opined that Asean and Malaysia should act in their own interests. 'We do whatever benefits us. It does not matter whether it is with the US, China, or anyone. We are and should remain non-discriminatory in that sense. 'That should be our posture. But we are aware of the neighbourhood we live in. We are aware of the tensions that exist. And we are aware that the world is undergoing a transition,' he concluded. – Bernama
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Aerotrain timeline not affected by privatisation: MAHB chairman
KUALA LUMPUR: The timeline for completion of the Aerotrain project at KL International Airport (KLIA) is completely unrelated to the recent privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said its chairman Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. Dismissing speculation that a delay was linked to the company's privatisation, the chairman attributed it to multiple changes in government and leadership over the years. "In my view, any professional would know how to deal with obsolescence and replacement, and would make sure of its timely execution. "No, it has nothing to do with privatisation. The time taken was due to too many changes in government since recent years, which impacted the decision-making process," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently. He noted that a decision to replace the Aerotrain was made as early as 2016, but subsequent political shifts in 2018 until 2022 caused delays in implementation. "Over the past six years, we've had five prime ministers, five chairmen, and five chief executive officers. Every time there is a change, it affects the decision-making process. "While management was aware of the need to replace the train and recommended it, circumstances beyond our control slowed the process," he explained. The chairman assured that the Aerotrain project is now progressing as scheduled, with testing currently underway. "Everything is in place. The train is on the track, the power supply is ready and testing is ongoing. Since it's a public transport system, we must obtain approval from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the service is expected to be operational by the second quarter of this year," he said. The Aerotrain, which serves as a vital mode of transport between the airport terminals, was suspended in March 2023 for maintenance and upgrading works after a breakdown, with an initial promise to restore service in time for the new year. The service, which had been in operation for 25 years, has been a backbone of KLIA's internal transport network since 1998. In January this year, MAHB announced that the Aerotrain service would resume in the second quarter of 2025. — BERNAMA
Malay Mail
24-04-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
MAHB chairman: Political shifts, not privatisation, delayed KLIA Aerotrain project
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — The timeline for completion of the Aerotrain project at KL International Airport (KLIA) is completely unrelated to the recent privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), said its chairman Nungsari Ahmad Radhi. Dismissing speculation that a delay was linked to the company's privatisation, the chairman attributed it to multiple changes in government and leadership over the years. 'In my view, any professional would know how to deal with obsolescence and replacement, and would make sure of its timely execution. 'No, it has nothing to do with privatisation. The time taken was due to too many changes in government since recent years, which impacted the decision-making process,' he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently. He noted that a decision to replace the Aerotrain was made as early as 2016, but subsequent political shifts in 2018 until 2022 caused delays in implementation. 'Over the past six years, we've had five prime ministers, five chairmen, and five chief executive officers. Every time there is a change, it affects the decision-making process. 'While management was aware of the need to replace the train and recommended it, circumstances beyond our control slowed the process,' he explained. The chairman assured that the Aerotrain project is now progressing as scheduled, with testing currently underway. 'Everything is in place. The train is on the track, the power supply is ready and testing is ongoing. Since it's a public transport system, we must obtain approval from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the service is expected to be operational by the second quarter of this year,' he said. The Aerotrain, which serves as a vital mode of transport between the airport terminals, was suspended in March 2023 for maintenance and upgrading works after a breakdown, with an initial promise to restore service in time for the new year. The service, which had been in operation for 25 years, has been a backbone of KLIA's internal transport network since 1998. In January this year, MAHB announced that the Aerotrain service would resume in the second quarter of 2025. — Bernama
