PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has denied claims Putrajaya is discriminating against any state in terms of distributing allocations and development, including the approval to build the Kulim International Airport (KXP) in Kedah.

Anwar said any proposal to build an airport requires careful study before it can be implemented as it involves several important aspects, especially national security, and is subject to certain procedures and regulations.

“You need to ask the RMAF (Royal Malaysian Air Force), whether or not (can get clearance) for the flight zone… Someone said Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar (Albukhary) would pay for (the KXP construction project) and I told him (Syed Mokhtar) if he wanted to do it, why didn’t he tell me? Syed Mokhtar replied: ‘Brother, I have no proposal to build an airport, there is already a lot of work.’

“An airport cannot just be built so easily.. It touches on the issue of national security. If you want to be a leader, you have to study a little, you have to study more than others,” said Anwar during a reception with Kampung Sama Gagah residents near Permatang Pauh today.

Earlier, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor reportedly said Anwar should set aside his “personal interests” and hasten the approval to build the KXP. 

Sanusi said he has made every effort to realise the project, which is part of the Kedah Aerotropolis. – Bernama, June 30, 2023.