A CONTRACTOR’S failure to remove a mandatory plywood covering has been identified as the cause of a roof leak at Terminal 1 of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Friday.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) said in a statement that the lapse amounted to unacceptable negligence and fell short of the required standards for critical airport infrastructure works.
“Investigations found that the incident occurred during ongoing roof rectification and waterproofing works at the main terminal building, carried out as part of maintenance efforts for ageing infrastructure,” the statement said.
According to MAHB, the contractor had been completing scheduled sealing works at a roof drainage point when lightning activity intensified over KLIA.
“However, in the rush caused by worsening weather, the contractor failed to remove the plywood used as a safety cover over the drainage point, resulting in one of the roof drainage systems becoming blocked,” it said.
The obstruction prevented proper water flow during an episode of unusually heavy rain, causing large volumes of water to pool on the roof before penetrating the ceiling and entering the departure hall.
Work was halted immediately in line with safety procedures, and the contractor’s team was ordered to vacate the roof area. MAHB said the KLIA response team took about an hour and a half to clean and secure the affected area before normal operations resumed.
The airport operator stressed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards expected by the public and said it would take firm action against the contractor for its unsatisfactory performance.
At the same time, MAHB is working with the contractor to implement immediate improvements, including mandatory checks of weather forecasts before commencing roof works and strengthened emergency protocols for work stoppages during adverse conditions.
The roof works are part of a year-long repair project that began in April 2025 to restore and waterproof the main terminal roof, forming a key element of Malaysia Airports’ broader infrastructure renewal programme.
The incident came to public attention after videos of the leak circulated widely on social media on Friday. - November 15, 2025
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