ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor will bring up the issue of Pasir Gudang airspace in a meeting with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday.
Its Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said he will also hold an immediate meeting with the relevant authorities to get a better and comprehensive picture on the issue.
"I will also be with Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali when he visits Singapore on January 13 and 14, although it is not included in the agenda (the airspace issue) I am confident that it will be discussed and I will get feedback from there (Singapore ).
"In another day or two I will also have a meeting as well as hold a briefing on the issue which I only got to know it (air space) from media reports. I will also go to Kuala Lumpur and meet the Prime Minister on the matter as well as seek more information (from the federal government).
Osman was speaking to reporters after officiating the Iskandar Malaysia Food Court at Taman Nusa Perintis, here today.
Also present were the State Secretary, Datuk Azmi Rohani; State Housing and Rural Development Committee Chairman, Dzulkefly Ahmad and Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) Executive Director, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.
Osman also pointed out that Singapore had no right to bar Pasir Gudang's development.
He adds that the state government is actively developing Pasir Gudang into the state's third city.
"Pasir Gudang has the potential to become a city and the state government is also taking efforts to upgrade it as the state's third city as it has achieved the criteria of having a population of over 300,000 people.
"We have then right as the state goverment to develop it (Pasir Gudang), what is wrong with that, Singapore cannot stop it, he said.
Last Friday, Berita Harian in a report revealed that a number of light aircrafts and planes were seen circling over Malaysian airspace before landing at the Seletar Airport following enforcement of the Instrument Landing System (ILS).
The airport which mainly used for freight and private aircraft operations is located just off the Straits of Johor overlooking Johor Port, Johor Baru.
The report by the Malay daily also found that a large number of aircrafts and light aircrafts entered the airspace near the Johor Port and proceeded in a circular flight path before landing at the Seletar airport.
Malaysia wants Singapore to withdraw its plans to implement the ILS or change the flight path to its Seletar Airport.
On Dec 12, Transport Minister Anthony Loke had said the flight path for Seletar Airport would have a huge impact on development in Pasir Gudang because of the height restrictions on development there.
He said the Pasir Gudang Port would also be at high risk and there would be restrictions on the landing system.