Klia2, Visit Malaysia 2014 to help boost airport tourist figures

Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) saw losses before taxation and zakat of RM37.7 million in the second quarter of 2014 (2Q14) compared with a profit before tax and zakat (PBT) of RM132.1 million in the previous corresponding period.

Included in the PBT for the current quarter was a construction profit of RM23.3 million as compared to RM16.8 million in the previous corresponding quarter.

The group in a statement yesterday noted consolidated revenue for the current quarter was 20.2 per cent or RM197.4 million higher.

Its consolidated revenue for the financial period-to-date was 2.4 per cent or RM48.7 million lower than the same corresponding period in the previous year.

“In the first half of 2014, MAHB airports handled 41.3 million passenger movements registering 11.8 per cent growth over the same corresponding period in 2013,” the group explained in its note to Bursa Malaysia.

“Out of the total passenger movements, KLIA registered 24.4 million passengers with 9.7 per cent growth.

The registered traffic is the highest ever recorded by MAHB for the half year, it added. While growth continues to remain positive, the percentage of growth has declined slightly in May and June, partly due to a higher growth base in 2013.

The financial institution noted that the higher non-interest income was attributed to higher income from its unit trust business.

As for the banking group’s overseas operations, Public Bank said for the first half of the year, its overseas operations contributed 7.4 per cent of the Group’s overall pre-tax profit.

Cambodian Public Bank Plc ( Campu Bank), a wholly- owned subsidiary of Public Bank, reported another set of strong pre- tax profit growth of 36.2 per cent to US$ 22.9 million as compared to the corresponding period in 2013, amid the challenging business environment in Cambodia.

The banking group observed that Campu Bank remains as one of the top three largest banks in Cambodia.

Going forward, Teh said, “Our strategies for the Public Bank group remain unchanged.

“The group will continue to focus on its core retail banking and financing business, whilst maintaining its prudent credit policies, as well as upholding strong corporate governance.

“The group will continue to leverage on its strong Public Bank brand and its wide and efficient branch network as well as its excellent customer service to support long term sustainable growth,” Teh said.