Letter to Kong Cho Ha: Penang International Airport In A State Of Distress (en/bm/cn)

12 March 2012

YB Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha
Menteri Pengangkutan
Kementerian Pengangkutan
Blok D5, Parcel D,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia.

YB Dato’ Seri

Penang International Airport In A State Of Distress

With reference to our earlier conversation, I wish to bring your attention to the above subject.

In the last two to three weeks, the Penang International Airport has been in a state of severe distress. This is due to three reasons:

1. The RM250 million airport expansion project is behind schedule.

2. The works being carried out are defective, resulting in not only leakages but also flooding. Whenever it rains, it will flood not only outside but up to one inch inside the airport terminal.

3. This problem is causing massive disturbance and inconvenience to countless airport users, affecting not only their travel convenience but worse, also damaging their luggage.

I am sure YB Minister will agree that it is an extreme embarrassment to the country to have one inch of water floating inside the terminal of an international airport. As the airport is the first impression people get of Penang and in many cases, of Malaysia, I strongly urge YB Minister to intervene directly to resolve this problem.

This shameful situation is extremely serious and reveals a systemic failure in the whole project. It is therefore imperative that YB Minister take immediate action on this matter, and if possible to visit and see for yourself the sad and shameful state of affairs at the Penang International Airport.

I have attached a few photos along with this letter as stark proof of how bad the situation is.

This is a matter of national concern, and I sincerely hope that you will treat this it seriously and with grave importance.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Lim Guan Eng
Chief Minister

— BM Version—

Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang Berada Dalam Keadaan Yang Amat Menyedihkan

Merujuk kepada perbualan awal kita, saya ingin membawa perhatian YB Dato’ Seri untuk perkara di atas.

Dalam 2- 3 minggu lepas, Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang telah berada dalam keadaan yang amat menyedihkan. Ini berlaku disebabkan 3 sebab utama:

1. Projek pembesaran lapangan terbang sebanyak RM250 juta lewat daripada jadual

2. Kerja- kerja yang dijalankan tidak sempurna menyebabkan bukan sahaja berlaku kebocoran tetapi juga banjir. Apabila hujan, banjir bukan sahaja berlaku di luar tetapi juga sehingga satu inci di dalam terminal lapangan terbang.

3. Masalah ini menyebabkan gangguan yang sangat besar dan memberikan kesukaran yang tidak terhingga kepada pengguna lapangan terbang bukan sahaja terhadap perjalanan tetapi yang lebih teruk turut merosakkan barangan mereka.

Saya pasti YB Menteri akan bersetuju bahawa kejadian ini amat memalukan kepada negara kerana air setinggi satu inci telah membanjiri terminal lapangan terbang antarabangsa. Oleh kerana lapangan terbang memberikan gambaran yang pertama terhadap mereka yang memasuki Pulau Pinang dan yang lebih penting, Malaysia, saya menggesa YB Menteri untuk campur tangan secara langsung dalam menyelesaikan masalah ini.

Situasi yang memalukan ini adalah amat serius dan membuktikan kegagalan sistem keseluruhan projek ini. Oleh itu, adalah penting YB Menteri untuk mengambil tindakan segera mengenai perkara ini dan jika boleh YB Menteri datang dan melihat sendiri keadaan yang menyedihkan dan memalukan di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang.

Saya sertakan surat ini dengan beberapa keping gambar sebagai bukti yang jelas untuk situasi yang buruk ini.

Ini adalah satu perkara yang menjadi kebimbangan negara dan saya amat berharap YB Menteri akan memandang perkara ini dengan serius dan dengan kepentingan.

Sekian, terima kasih.

LIM GUAN ENG
Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang

—Mandarin Version—

槟州国际机场惨不忍睹

我谨此致函希望您关注上述事项。

在过去两至三个星期,槟州国际机场实在惨不忍睹。这是由于下列原因所导致的:

1. 这项价值2亿5000万令吉的机场扩建工程已经延期。

2. 机场的扩建工程缺陷处处,不只处处漏水,还造成淹水。每逢雨天,不只机场外淹水,机场内也会积水高达1寸。

3. 这种情况为机场无数的用户造成困扰及不便。不只为他们的行程造成不便,也损坏他们的行李。

我肯定您会赞同我,在国际机场内出现高达1寸高的积水,简直是国耻。机场是槟城给访客的第一印象,也是访客对马来西亚的第一印象,我促请您马上介入解决这项问题。

这种令人难堪的场面真的非常严重,也揭露了整项扩建工程存有系统上的缺陷。您必须马上采取行动,如果可以,您可以亲临现场,看一看槟州国际机场是多么地不堪入目及丢人现眼。

我附函附上照片,以证明其情况有多糟糕。

这关乎国家利益,我希望您可以高度关注这个问题。

谢谢!

林冠英
槟州首席部长

1 thought on “Letter to Kong Cho Ha: Penang International Airport In A State Of Distress (en/bm/cn)”

  1. In short, I can suggest 1001 things to improve Penang airport but I will only suggest only 6 things to bring it up to scratch (by no means International standard). 1. Ensure that there is leveled and disabled access that means new wider lifts, no steps into the toilet and gently sloping ramps at 1:12 NOT 1:45 lah!. 2. Bigger walkway and incoming and outgoing passenger clearly separated and shop display must be within shop premises. 3. Toilets must be clean, odourless and dry at all times and no mini-steps as you enter. 4. Proper working air-conditioning system at all times. 5. No sale of smelly food like the bloody sweetcorn stall and no shops or cafe must be located near the arrival or departure area where people tend to congregate. 6. Get rid of the marble paving just outside the exit doors before some slips and kill themselves. Whoever specify putting marble slap ought to be shot. When it rains the outside area will be like a skating ring. These are only my initial thoughts, I could go on and on………. I have seen enough airports around the world and Penang airport is very low in ranking in my opinion. Why can’t they look at Singapore, Hong Kong or Schipol as three very good examples,even Heathrow which is a 60’s airport is far more superior. Airports in China has improved beyond recognition in the last 10 years, why can’t Malaysian airports? Ai yo ‘Chin Neah Kean Xiao’ lah! The Architects, Health and Safety officials ought to know better or do they?

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