Aerotrain Delay Nothing To Do With Privatisation Says Mahb Boss

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 Nungsari Ahmad Radhi says the delay in resumption of service is due to changes in the government and leadership structure.
The Aerotrain was suspended in March 2023 after a breakdown for maintenance and upgrading works.KUALA LUMPUR: The timeline for the completion of the Aerotrain project at 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, Nungsari attributed it to changes in the government and leadership structure 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 over the recent years, which impacted the decision-making process,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.
He said a decision to replace the Aerotrain was made as early as 2016, but that subsequent political shifts from 2018 until 2022 caused delays in implementation.
“Over the past six years, we’ve had five prime ministers, five chairmen, and five CEOs. Every time there is a change, it affects the decision-making process.
“While the management was aware of the need to replace the train and recommended it, circumstances beyond our control slowed the process,” he said.
Nungsari added that the Aerotrain project was 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. 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 that service would be restored in time for the new year.
The service, which has operated for 25 years, has been a backbone of KLIA’s internal transport network since 1998.
In January, MAHB announced that the Aerotrain service would resume in the second quarter of 2025. - FMT

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