Azmin assures Penang no impact from Kulim airport

Diyana Ibrahim Diyana Ibrahim Updated 7 years ago · Published on 21 Mar 2019 1:30PM · 2 Comments

Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali says the proposal for the new airport is in line with Putrajaya’s policy to equalise development across the country, instead of concentrating development in the Klang Valley, Selangor, and Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, March 21, 2019.

ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Mohd Azmin Ali denied that Kulim International Airport (KXP) will negatively affect Penang’s competitiveness.

He said the proposal for the new airport was in line with Putrajaya’s policy to equalise development across the country, instead of concentrating development in the Klang Valley, Selangor, and Johor, which are the country’s main industrial hubs.

“I don’t think there will be any impact (on Penang), because it will instead complement whatever facilities we have in Penang, and also in Alor Star.

“We can also see that more investors are coming to Malaysia,” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

The RM1.6 billion KXP will be privately funded, but is part of a package of high impact projects for Kedah that Azmin announced two days ago.

The proposal for KXP has been greeted with caution by Penang, a major hub in the north for industry and businesses, and which has an international airport about an hour’s drive from Kulim.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had raised the need for a new feasibility study.

He said the current study, apparently done by the private sector, cited the airport as both a passenger and cargo airport, while Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir had told him in person that it would only be a cargo airport.

Chow has asked Mukhriz to clarify the matter.

On the new feasibility study, Azmin said one would be undertaken as the proposal for the airport had been raised in meetings on economic development in the north chaired by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and attended by menteris besar and chief ministers.

However, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd today said it had no information from Putrajaya about the project. – March 21, 2019.

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Comments

  • Let's face the fact Azmin.!! Kedah has nothing except as rice growing basin ( and yet that is also a dismal failure in productivity and yield with Bernas not playing its role intended ). Tell us how can Kulim international Airport which is only an hour away from Penang international Airport compliments each other. The volume of air traffic to Kedah will be so neglible as economic activities are so subdued. More of hoping from Penang hustle bustle activities and the influx of tourist to be off loaded to Kedah states . No tourists or investors would like to fly into Kulim Airport just to get to Penang. To rakyat it looks like a strategy to rub off the shine in Penang to Kedah which is a total failure strategy. Penang is as it is and Kedah cannot be like as Penang. Population dermography are different in both states with cultural , food , outlook , investment environment and even social intermingling. Kedah can be as it is and infact to expand Langkawi as a big international airport would augurs well for Kedah as awhole. Much better if Federal were to start activiting some thoughts into linking a bridge from Kedah mainland to Langkawi island to spur tourists both local and foreign. Then the money will be well spent.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • cant even manage Malaysia Airlines but now planning a new international airport within Grab car distance from Penang

    Posted 7 years ago by The Rover · Reply