GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will meet with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) soon to iron out technical issues related to the expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the talks would focus on ensuring compliance with technical requirements for the project.
"We welcome Transport Minister Anthony Loke's recent announcement on the PIA expansion project, which means that the project will soon be realised with the calling of tender for the appointment of contractor.
"At this stage, MAHB and the state government will continue with discussion on technical issues compliance," he told newsmen here today.
He was met after the opening of the 45th International Advertising Association (IAA) World Congress held at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre.
Some 1,000 participants from more than 30 countries attended the three-day congress.
Media Prima is the local media partner for the event while BBC News is the international media partner.
He said that discussions with MAHB would run concurrently with the project's planning phase.
However, Chow clarified that he lacked specific details on the project components but expected the relevant state executive council members to engage in stakeholder sessions with MAHB.
Late last month, Loke said MAHB had gotten the approval from the Cabinet to expand PIA, which is expected to begin by the second or third quarter this year.
He said some of the expenses of the estimated over RM1 billion project would be borne by the national airport operator while the rest would likely be funded using the Airport Development Fund (ADF).
This came a week after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called for Putrajaya to speed up the funding approval for the expansion of the PIA.
Chow said indeed the project was expedited following the prime minister's announcement.
"This decision will signify the tender process for the project," he added.