THE Penang government has promised to allocate all resources required by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for the Penang International Airport (PIA) expansion project.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he has asked all state government agencies, especially the District and Land Office, to facilitate the project’s progress.

“MAHB has been making early preparations since 2018 (on the PIA expansion) and it has been granted planning consent. With this announcement (Budget 2023), the state government team will give input and cooperate in implementing the project,” he told reporters after officiating the handover of the Tanjung Berembang Bridge on Route P169 in Nibong Tebal today.

The 2.13km bridge was completed in March last year at a cost of RM28 million. 

When tabling Budget 2023 yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that PIA and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor, would be expanded, but that construction of the new airport in Kulim, Kedah, would be halted. 

Chow, who is also Batu Kawan MP, said the state government will bid for several infrastructure projects not listed under Budget 2023, for implementation under the 12th Malaysia Plan, which runs until the year-end. 

He said state government departments have been asked to perform follow-up checks with ministers concerned for these projects to be listed in next year’s budget. – Bernama, February 25, 2023.