PETALING JAYA: The transport ministry today said it was never informed of any proposal to build a new airport in Penang, following a report that two companies had proposed the construction of two airports in the northern states to serve as an integrated facility in the northern region of the peninsula.
The ministry said it was never invited to any discussion on the proposals and never received any proposal papers on the two airports.
“The power to build or operate an aerodrome or to allow any licensed company to build, maintain and operate an aerodrome is vested in the transport minister under Act 3 of the Civil Aviation Act,” it said in a statement.
It added that the ministry is planning to upgrade the existing Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas.
Putrajaya recently announced that the PIA would be expanded to allow passenger capacity of 16 million a year as opposed to the current 6.5 million a year. This is estimated to cost about RM1.2 billion.
The Star reported earlier today that two companies had proposed the construction of an airport on a reclaimed island off Nibong Tebal and Parit Buntar and another near Bandar Baharu town on the borders of Penang, Kedah and Perak, as an integrated facility for the northern peninsula.
According to the report, if either option is taken up, the land on which PIA sits, estimated to be worth RM7.2 billion, will be surrendered to the winning proposer. This would also require the closure of PIA.
The report claimed the two proposals were presented to federal government officials, although it did not provide specific details.
The Penang government also said it was unaware of such plans, although the chief minister said there was no issue with having another airport in the state or region as long as it does not adversely affect PIA or the economy. - FMT
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