Penang airport expansion is urgent, CM tells gov't

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has said it is imperative that the detailed study on the expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA) proposed by the federal government be carried out with the participation of the state government.

"We invite the federal government and the Malaysian Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to engage with the Penang administration.

"We would like to cooperate with MAHB. The Penang Development Corporation, at one time, has acquired land around the airport and has interest in participating in the expansion project," Chow said at a press conference in Komtar today.

"Hopefully, MAHB will contact and communicate with the relevant state agencies in Penang, to ensure successful expansion of the airport," he added.

"The passenger growth rate is already pressing, so we will follow closely as both governments (federal and state) are now aligned," he stressed.

He was responding to a parliamentary reply yesterday to his question over the urgent expansion of the PIA due to increasing passenger growth.

In his question, Chow (photo) had asked when the airport expansion project would begin as the passenger capacity for the PIA has hit 12 million, adding that the detailed cost and expansion would require land acquisition.

In his reply, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the airport was designed to cater for 6.5 million passengers annually.

However, the number of passengers in 2017 reached 7.2 million. 

"The government is committed to resolve the problem of lack of capacity at the PIA and will be taking short- and long-term measures so that the quality of service to consumers can be upgraded in line with the tourism industry's rapid growth in Penang," Loke said, in his reply which was circulated to reporters in Penang.

For short-term mitigation measures, he said the Transport Ministry, via MAHB, is planning to implement terminal optimisation to reduce passenger congestion, especially during peak hours.

This measure is expected to be ready by the second quarter of 2019, added Loke.

The work scope involved in this terminal optimisation measure is the relocation of all ticket counters, expansion and enlargement of entry and immigration counters, including modifying the baggage carousel.

Loke said the MAHB is in the process of preparing documents for tender application to appoint contractors.

He added that the renovation work will take five months and is expected to be ready by February next year.

As for long-term measures, MAHB has plans to increase the capacity of passenger management from 6.5 million annually to 12 million.

"In this matter, the MAHB is in the process of appointing a consultant for the project, and this will be carried out via an open tender process," Loke said.

"The detailed cost for the expansion project is subject to a study which will be carried out by the consultant, and the appropriate payment method chosen.

"The government will review the development model and the appropriate payment method so that the expansion project can be carried out in the most cost-effective manner," he added.

"No land acquisition is needed as there is enough land area for the project." - Mkini