GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government has requested the Transport Ministry to re-look at the proposal for the Kulim International Airport (KXP) to ensure that the development plan is holistic and beneficial to all parties concerned.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (DAP - Padang Kota) said checks on two feasibility reports prepared by consultants for the proposed project revealed that it would have a negative impact on the Penang International Airport (PIA), specifically, and the state, generally.
“As such, we have reiterated our stand that the Transport Ministry re-look at the proposal and conduct a more indepth study on the matter,” he said, to a question by Goh Choon Aik (PKR - Bukit Tambun) at the second day of the state legislative assembly sitting, here, today.
Chow also told the august house the proposed KXP project was not tabled at the recent National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) meeting or even the previous ones.
To a supplementary question on how the Penang government could influence the Transport Ministry’s decision on the matter, Chow said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had announced that the KXP project would only be implemented using the private financial initiative (PFI).
“For this, the parties involved need to determine whether the project is feasible and should go ahead or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lee Khai Loon (PKR - Machang Bubuk) asked if there was any truth that the KXP would only cater to cargo, especially for the northern region.
“The KXP cannot be dismissed as a ‘zero sum game’ if it is for the holistic development for the northern region for the next 20 years,” he said.
To this, Chow said Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir had relayed to him on the matter (KXP as a cargo airport), during a courtesy call on the former previously.
He however said the two feasibility reports prepared by the consultants showed it was a full-fledge airport and not merely a cargo airport.
“Even then, our cargo is still way below capacity, compared to passengers.
“So, we need to take all these factors into consideration,” he added.
Chow said the state would also conduct its own feasibility study of the KXP to assess its effect in the long run on the state's economy.
“We want to ensure both states benefit from the development plans,” he stressed.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali had recently said that the proposed RM1.6 billion KXP mega project would be fully funded by the private sector, as the government was severely lacking in funds for infrastructure development.
KXP is one of the seven mega projects announced for Kedah recently, apart from a manufacturing industries and logistics hub in Sidam near Kulim; two phases of the Northern Corridor highway project over a 70-km stretch; a digital library in Alor Setar; a petrochemical industrial park in Gurun and the Kasih Ibu Darul Aman (KIDA) programme.
All of the projects cost more than RM3 billion, as part of efforts to draw foreign investments into the state.