Putrajaya approves RM1.6 billion Kulim airport, says Azmin

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 19 Mar 2019 4:20PM · 1 Comments

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali shares development plans for Kedah. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 19, 2019

KULIM International Airport (KXP) has been given the go-ahead as part of the government’s plan to bridge development gaps, said Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali.

The airport is also among seven high-impact projects in Kedah detailed in the midterm review of the 11th Malaysia Plan.

Azmin pegged the combined worth of the projects at RM3.2 billion.

“Regional development agenda is one of the Pakatan Harapan government’s key promises that will be realised through the strategic cooperation of many parties, including state governments,” he said in a statement today.

Apart from KXP, the other projects are a manufacturing industries and logistics hub in Sidam near Kulim; two phases of the Northern Corridor Highway project covering a 70km stretch; a digital library in Alor Star; a petrochemical industrial park in Gurun; and, the Kasih Ibu Darul Aman (KIDA) programme.

The first phase of the Northern Corridor Highway is a stretch from Bandar Baharu in Kulim to Sg Petani, and the second, from Bandar Baharu to the Sultan Abdul Halim Bridge in Penang.

The estimated cost of the highway project is RM1.7 billion, Azmin told a press conference after a special meeting with federal and state government officers and staff.

He said KXP will cost RM1.6 billion, the manufacturing industries and logistics hub (RM300 million), digital library (RM15 million) and petrochemical industrial park (RM2 million).

He said the KIDA programme, with an annual allocation of RM30 million, will assist 5,482 poor families.

They will be given smart cards with a value of between RM400 and RM500 to buy basic necessities, he said.

“We provide an annual allocation of RM30 million for the programme, under which women and mothers of poor households get a smart card. They only need to swipe the card at supermarkets.

“The payment will be borne by the state government, with the assistance of the federal government. We will implement the programme this year. It will benefit poor families, particularly in Baling, Sik, Yan and Kota Setar.”

He said he is optimistic that mega infrastructure projects will draw foreign investors to Kedah, leading to increased employment opportunities and income for locals, and a boost in state revenue.

The government has also approved a RM1.132 billion development expenditure for the state this year, involving 51 new projects and the continuation of 201 others, he added. – March 19, 2019.

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  • How stupid and silly can PH Government in dumping a hugh sum of money into an airport project and labelled it as high impact project for Kedah. If the government is thinking that Kulim High Tech Park will the engine of growth and create the high usage of the airport facilities, I think the government will be into a big fiasco and a scandals to be seen soon. The Tech industries are down sizing and sometimes if one were to take a drive you shall see some of the factories are quiet like a grave yard. What population can Kulim or even sourrounding vicinity of Kedah as a whole to support an assume thriving airport. There is an international airport existing in Penang Island catering for tourist to move around. Infact it is busted to the seam due to high influx of tourists and also from local populations. The established Free Trade Zone with all the Multinational companies are contributing to the hype of activities. What justifications has Kedah to offer to spend such amount of money on an airport. Transporting out cargo of rice from the rice land of Kedah . Even Bernas is already seen as a flop , just makes one wonder what is the catch in this developement of the new airport. The ROI will be almost insignificant or maybe a disaster as there is nothing tangible to ensure a well used airport . It is more to a make believe of self consolation that it will provide a competition and hep to ease and divert the congestions of Penang thriving airport traffic which by reasoning is not even needed in the first place. . If such humongus spending were intelligently used to expand whatever is in Penang Island existing airport by making it bigger thru accquring of sourrounding land prior to the other new airport build in the southern coast reclaimed land. Infact PH should seriously think to make Penang Island Airport as the hub and the main base for the Nothern Economic Corridors rather than wasting hard earn money from rakyat in the senseless project. Langkawi also has their own air port to support tourism but having one more in Kullim does not mean that Kedah is a developed state. Maybe PH needs to be reminded of the trillions debts where they had vociferously clamoured that UmnoBN has burdened them with.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply