Spell out details of Kulim airport contract, says Penang DCM

 

An artist’s impression of the proposed RM6 billion Kulim airport project. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Kedah state government was challenged today to publish details on the contract for the billion-dollar Kulim airport project scheduled for 2026.

P. Ramasamy, Penang’s deputy chief minister II, questioned the timing of the development, details of which were announced by the Kedah state government earlier today.

He said it was in “bad taste” to sign agreements for the mega project when the country is being ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many people losing jobs and income as a result of movement restrictions.

“It is not that the airport should not be pursued but the time is certainly not now – not when people have no jobs, no food, and are suffering,” he said in a Facebook post this evening.

“What is the priority for the airport now? Is it a move to challenge Penang airport?” he said and raised the possiblity that the project was “an effective punishment for a recalcitrant Penang” in a dispute beteen the two states over the use of water from the Muda river.

He added that, since the Kedah government is involved, it would be in the public interest that they disclose the criteria it used to award the project, whether or not there was an open tender, and if there were any possible inducements.

“If the state followed procedures, then maybe the public should be informed of the criteria that enabled this company to be chosen and not others,” he said, referring to the ECK Group, one of the companies that will be undertaking the project.

Kedah Menter Besar Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor had said that the airport project will boost the state’s economy, providing 20,000 jobs for the locals and raising the state GDP to 7.5%.

Ramasamy said the Kedah MB should be looking into the welfare and wellbeing of Kedahans instead of “striking deals with companies or painting a rosy picture of what is to come with the airport”.

“The Kedah government cannot even settle its water debt to the federal government. It cannot provide gainful employment to thousands of Kedahans who seek employment in Penang and other states,” Ramasamy said.

The Kedah government signed a joint venture agreement today with ECK Group to build the Kulim International Airport. ECK will own 80% of the equity of the project while the state government will own the rest through KXP AirportCity Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The first phase of the project is expected to cost RM6 billion including the cost of land acquisition. - FMT