KKIA EXPANSION BACK ON TRACK.

TheStar :  Monday September 22, 2014

KOTA KINABALU: The expansion work on the KK International Airport (KKIA) will finally be completed next January after a delay of more than two years.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the final phase of the expansion works – the extension of the airport’s runway and taxiway – would be completed by then.

 

“The new contractor has managed to bring forward the projected completion date from March to January next year,” said Liow, the MCA president, after opening the party’s state convention here yesterday.

He said the expansion work was more than 95% completed at the KKIA, which had been handling at least 6.5 million passengers per year. “We are now back on track.”

Liow said the airport runway had been extended by some 600m to a length of 3,780m so that it could receive larger aircraft.

The RM1.4bil KKIA expansion work began in 2005 and was initially targeted for completion in mid-2012.

Liow said his ministry was also looking at the extension of the Sandakan airport runway and Lahad Datu airport expansion as requested by the Sabah government.

Earlier when launching the Sabah MCA convention, Liow said members must understand the reforms the party was undergoing and that members must know their role and be proactive about it.

MCA members, he said, should play a leading role in the community they lived in.

“They cannot be the passengers. Party branches and divisions have to be active as well,” he added.

He said the party’s transformation must take place in the shortest time possible.

“We have come up with a ‘Stronger Together’ campaign. It not just a slogan but an initiative aimed at strengthening unity in the party,” Liow said.

He added that one of the party’s priorities was to strengthen small and medium enterprises.

Liow also directed MCA leaders to visit Sabah more frequently to assess the situation on the ground.

Till then, see ya~

BORNEO RYTHMS OF RIMBA WILDLIFE FESTIVAL 2014 @ SANDAKAN.

Hello again,

Borneo Rythms of Rimba Wildlife Festival 2014 presents green initiative and culture as they bring nature lovers to Sandakan. It is set to be staged on 3 and 4 October 2014. The festival will feature a mix of well known international and local musicians,performing a fusion of traditional and contemporary music. wildlife experts, wildlife conservationist. 

The scenic and serene landscape of the RDC (Rainforest Discovery Center @ Sandakan) will provide a nature-themed backdrop for the open-air festival as well as indoor to everyone. The program will start from 4pm (day 1) with music performances and wildlife presentations. On day 2, it will start at 12 pm until midnight.

Program itinerary

                      

The Borneo Rythms of Rimba Wildlife Festival 2014 @ Sandakan is truly an event not to be missed. 

GONNA SEE YOU GUYS THERE!

Till then, see ya~

MALINDO AIR OFFERS LOW-FARE DEALS TO ALL DESTINATIONS.

Bernama : September 03, 2014 

Hello again,

Read more at: http://english.astroawani.com

/news/show/malindo-air-offers-low-fare-deals-to-all-destinations-43168?cp

KUALA LUMPUR: Malindo Air is offering low-fare deals with its special mega sale promotion for seats and flights departing primarily from all its destinations.
 

In a statement today, the hybrid airline said the domestic and international online promotion would start tomorrow till Sept 14, 2014 and the promotion covered the travel period from Jan 5-May 31, 2015.
 

"The promotion is available for all flights departing from Subang to destinations within Malaysia with fares starting from RM49 all-inclusive one-way," it said.
 

Malindo Air said the fares to domestic destinations from KLIA would start from RM69 all-inclusive one way; Jakarta, Bali and Bangkok (RM99 all-inclusive one-way) Trichy and Kochi (RM159 all-inclusive one way); and, Delhi and Mumbai (RM299 all-inclusive one way).
 

In conjunction with the coming Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair this weekend, Malindo Air said it would also offer exclusive special promotional fares for travel agents beginning today until Sept 30, 2014 for travel from now until April 30, 2015. 

Till then, see ya~

Read more at: http://english.astroawani.com/news/show/malindo-air-offers-low-fare-deals-to-all-destinations-43168?cp

BRAHIM'S EXPECTED TO BE AFFECTED BY MALAYSIA AIRLINES RESTRUCTURING.

TheStar : Wednesday September 3, 2014

Hello again,

PETALING JAYA: Brahim’s Holdings Bhd’s new term business is expected to be affected once Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) migrates its operations to a new company (Newco) by July next year.

According to AllianceDBS Research, when MAS migrates its business to the Newco, the ailing airline company is expected to renegotiate its supply contracts, including the catering contract with Brahim’s subsidiary, Brahim’s Airline Catering Sdn Bhd (BAC).

“There is unlikely to be compensation for any breach of supply contracts because there will be limited equity capital left in the old company once the selective capital repayment is completed.

“We also expect renewed emphasis on revenue yield management, which will put an end to its current aggressive promotional fares. These measures will hurt BAC’s sales volumes,” said the research house in a note yesterday.

It expects earnings to contract by 22% and 11% in Brahim’s 2014 and 2015 financial years ending Dec 31 respectively. The research house however projects earnings to grow by 15% in 2016. Brahim’s sources up to 75% of its sales from MAS’ inflight meals.

AllianceDBS also noted that regional flights typically consume less meals vis-à-vis long-haul flights, while the focus on yield management would lead to higher fares and lower load factor/passenger traffic going forward.

“BAC is unlikely to be able to secure new contracts from other airlines to fill the void left by MAS, especially not in the near-term. While passengers could theoretically switch to other airlines which could in turn ramp-up capacity to gain market share, we believe this is unlikely to happen.”

According to the research house, the strong passenger traffic in 2013 was mainly driven by MAS’ aggressive fare promotion. But this had led to industry-wide yield compression, which had in turn dragged airlines’ profitability.

“As such, we expect the other airlines to take the opportunity (arising from MAS restructuring) to lift fares again to more sustainable levels. Also, the other airlines will feel less need to cut fares given MAS’ renewed focus on yield management.

“However, the anticipated higher industry-wide airfares would make travel more expensive and reduce passenger traffic, and consequently, demand for BAC’s in-flight meals.”

All of these factors, said AllianceDBS, would not bode well for Brahim’s.

“Adding salt to the injury, Brahim’s has to service a large term loan which it took in 2013 when it acquired 34.3% effective stake in BAC.

“The group has since refinanced the loan with a lower-cost term loan, but we estimate the annual interest expense still amounts to RM11mil per annum. 

“This financial leverage will weigh on Brahim’s bottomline should the in-flight catering business slow down substantially.”

Till then, see ya~

SABAH'S SEA CURFEW EXTENDED TO SEPT 19.

TheStar : Wednesday September 3, 2014

Hello again,

KOTA KINABALU: The sea curfew in Sabah’s east coast will be extended till Sept 19 amid continuing intelligence reports of that southern Philippines based criminals were planning to carry out kidnapping activities.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abd Rahman said the 7pm to 5am curfew was necessary to maintain security in the area as kidnap groups based in neighbouring islands were still planning hits in soft targets along the border.

“We have also received reports that there was a possibility of them trying to smuggle firearms,’’ he told reporters here Wednesday.

He said the curfew was also needed to check on smuggling activities including syabu and other subsidised Malaysian goods like fuel.

Jalaluddin said that tour and resort operators and also fish farmers were happy with the curfew, as they felt safer with the restricted movements at nights.

The curfew also enabled the security forces to carry out patrols and enforcement effectively.

He said since the curfew was enforced, a total of 92 people have been arrested of which 64 were caught for contravening the curfew order.

The others were mainly people caught without proper documents.

The curfew order covers six districts - Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Tawau.

Till then, see ya~