Statutory body up for studying second Penang airport plan, says CM
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THE Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has agreed to study Penang’s proposal to build a second international airport.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the NCIA had last week said it could undertake the study.
“But it will require a budget from Putrajaya. The state exco has said that if NCIA cannot get the budget, the Penang government will finance the study.
“We have to take follow-up action to study the proposal. The study will also look into the Kedah government’s proposal to build an airport in Kulim, and any other airport proposal in the northern region,” he said at the Penang Development Corporation’s Chinese New Year open house in George Town today.
At the last state legislative assembly sitting in November, Chow spoke of plans to build a second airport on reclaimed land in Batu Maung near Pulau Rimau, not far from the existing airport.
The new airport is aimed at catering to air travel needs beyond 2050.
The plan comes on the heels of announcements by Kedah on its proposal to build an airport in Kulim, which borders Penang on the mainland.
The Kulim airport plan was mooted by Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir years ago when he was still in Barisan Nasional.
Yesterday, Mukhriz announced that KXP AirportCity Holdings Sdn Bhd has been set up to plan, coordinate and manage the development of Kulim International Airport (LTAK).
He said parties interested in developing the airport could send their proposals to KXP, which would analyse and evaluate them.
Chow, meanwhile, said concerns had surfaced about the proposed Kulim airport and its impact on Penang.
He said Transport Minister Anthony Loke had told him that no approval had been given to Kedah for the Kulim airport.
“If we are talking about primary products, then a seaport is more suitable. For electronic products, our airport in Bayan Lepas has been serving the industry very well.
“Proposals for new airports in and outside Penang are not new. But this time, it looks serious (for Kedah). They have done a feasibility study and announced a special-purpose company,” he said.
Chow said Mukhriz had paid him a courtesy visit last year after the change in government, and that the Kulim airport plan was among issues discussed.
“He conveyed Kedah’s position on the Kulim airport and sought our support. At the meeting, we didn’t say whether we supported it or not.
“We asked for a copy of the feasibility study report, which we received about a month ago. It was clearly a study for both a passenger and cargo airport.
“I don’t know when the study was done, in which era. It was conducted before referring to Penang. Only after the government change, the menteri besar saw fit to engage us and seek our understanding.” – February 14, 2019.