THE Penang International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Selangor will be upgraded under Budget 2023 to attract more investors, traders and tourists.

Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim said expansion of these two airports will be far cheaper than building a new airport in Kulim, Kedah, which will cost RM7 billion.

“In order to support the influx of investors, traders and tourists, the government plans to expand and improve the capacity of Penang International Airport and Subang airport,” he said when tabling the revised Budget 2023 today.

“The expansion proposal, to be led by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, is expected to boost economic growth at a much lower cost than the proposal to build a new airport in Kulim, which is estimated at RM7 billion.”

Anwar, however, did not state the status of the Kulim airport project.

Last week, the Transport Ministry told the Dewan Rakyat that the government has not given its final approval for the development of Kulim International Airport, pending the completion of the National Airport Strategic Plan (NASP) in August.

The ministry said the drafting of NASP began last March and is expected to take 18 months to complete.

Anwar also said the government plans to develop a main port on Carey Island, Selangor.

He said the project will be undertaken by the private sector. – February 24, 2023.