Orat for klia2 is on, even without CCC

PETALING JAYA: The Ministry of Transport will no longer wait for a Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) for klia2 to proceed with full-fledged Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (Orat) procedures involving stakeholders, deputy Minister Datuk Abd Aziz Kaprawi told SunBiz.
Orat is a comprehensive methodology and holistic approach employed to ensure the operational readiness of a new airport or airport infrastructure project.
Initially targeted to be obtainable by end of January 2014, in early February the Ministry gave it another "two to three weeks". Now however, the CCC, which certifies the safety of the project, is only expected by end of April.
There are three parts to the issuance of a CCC; it needs to comply with the Fire and Rescue Department, Sepang Municipal COuncil and Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) specifications.
In a phone interview with Abd Aziz, he said that the main terminal of klia2 has been given conditional approval by the Fire and Rescue Department, which allows for the entry of stakeholders for renovation works to start.
A CCC for klia2 however is pending approval from local council, and IWK, as joint venture partners UEM Construction Sdn Bhd and Bina Puri Sdn Bhd are still in the midst of repair works.
Calling the road, drainage and sewerage issues which had led to another delay in the issuance of CCC as "small issues", Abd Aziz said it would not jeopardise the overall completion date of klia2.
"The government is not going to focus on the CCC anymore. We are in crisis management mode now and going for split compliance," Abd Aziz said, explaining that the conditional approval for the main terminal enables it to go on with all Orat procedures at the terminal.
He added that he is even due to witness the signing of an agreement between Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and two airlines sometime this week to start operations at klia2 on May 2, 2014.
A CCC is however is needed to obtain the Certificate of Practical Completion.
On AirAsia Bhd's plan to move in to klia2 only in October or November, Abd Aziz said he said he can't understand the rationale for the airline to do so when other airlines are scrambling to start operating out of klia2.
According to a source, Orat work is proceeding well at the terminal, with about 10%-15% of testing and commissioning to be completed.
The terminal is expected to undergo full scale passenger simulation of between 3,000 and 4,000 people, which is about 30%-40% of the 10,000 passengers served during peak hour, in April.
It is understood that the National Orat Steering Committee chaired by MOT secretary general Datuk Long See Wool met yesterday to address any last minutes issues that could contribute to a possible delay in the operational date of klia2.