FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng reiterated today that the Kulim airport (KXP) development will not pose a threat to neighbouring Penang International Airport (PIA), which has recently been given federal funding to expand.

The dismissal was criticised by those who said in 2014, when Lim was Penang chief minister, he had opposed KXP as unfeasible.

Lim recently said KXP’s opponents have no reason to be concerned as the airport in Kulim, Kedah, would be fully funded by the private sector.

His successor, Chow Kon Yeow, told reporters last week that regardless of the funding model, Penang authorities had good reason to be concerned that building another airport so close to Penang’s would adversely affect business.

“If you ask me as the finance minister whether I will object against a project that the ministry will not have to pay for and does not involve public funds, what do you want me to say?” Lim told reporters in Penang today.

“We have no reason to object.”

He said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had decided that KXP would be good for Kedah and that the people should “respect his decision”.

He also assured Penang that Putrajaya’s expansion plans for PIA would go ahead as planned.

“The last government didn’t approve the expansion. No funding was allocated. It was under this government that the plans were approved.

“The former finance minister didn’t announce the expansion in the national budget, unlike in the 2019 Budget,” said Lim.

With expansion plans in the pipeline, Lim said there was no need for Penang to worry that PIA may be closed in favour of KXP.

“It doesn’t make sense to close the airport when we are planning to expand it,” he said.

“We understand the concerns in Penang, but there is no need to dwell on the matter.” – May 6, 2019.