THE Transport Ministry has not received any proposal on the Kulim International Airport (KXP) championed by the former Kedah government, said its minister, Anthony Loke.

“No proposal has been given to Ministry of Transport.

“There is no specific proposal on Kulim airport. I have reviewed all the projects by the ministry and no such project on Kulim (airport),” he told members of the media when asked whether Pakatan Harapan was studying the project.

Last August, the then Barisan Nasional-led government in Kedah said the state was committed to building the airport, and was working to secure approval from the federal government.

According to a news report by the News Straits Times on August 17, 2017, state Transport Committee chairman Tajul Urus Mat Zain told the Kedah state assembly that the project consultant, KLIA Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd, had presented the air space plan for KXP to then transport minister Liow Tiong Lai.

The plan was given through the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) on May 25, 2017, said the report, adding that the ministry and authorities had conducted a feasibility study for the project last year.

Loke also told reporters today that the government has yet to receive any formal application by Berjaya Groups on its plan to build an airport on Pulau Tioman, Pahang, which could cost up to RM1.2 billion.

“It’s just an announcement in the media as far as MOT is concerned. We have yet to receive any application from Vincent Tan (head of Berjaya group) or any proposal on Tioman airport,” Loke said.

Tan recently said the company would submit the proposal to the government and the construction of the airport would be financed by Berjaya.

“We are planning on this new infrastructure project and will be submitting the proposal to the government.

“We will not burden the government because I think anyone who wants to run an infrastructure project needs to find its own financing and not just ask the government,” Tan was quoted as saying. – June 12, 2018.