Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has refuted a statement made by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor - where the latter claimed that tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary will assist in the development of the Kulim International Airport, which is part of the Kedah Aerotropolis.
Speaking in Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar said Sanusi wrote to persuade him to consider approving the project as it is a suggestion from a private company – one that is owned by Syed Mokhtar.
“Syed Mohktar contacted me earlier and said, 'sorry Datuk Seri, I am not ready to take on this project'.
“This is me speaking about this in Parliament, with the Hansard (recording).
“He (Syed Mokhtar) said there is such a proposal but he is unable to do it as the project costs RM7 billion,” he said during his winding-up speech on the 2023 Supply Bill in Parliament today.
Meanwhile, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said a project that costs so much should be done carefully as involves various parties from the federal government.
“RM7 billion… if there are people who want to bring capital that is not scrutinised by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), the Finance Ministry or Transport Ministry, what kind of governance is this?
“There are no such projects. When there is such a motion by any state, it must be decided by the central agency. This has not happened,” Anwar stated.
He pointed out that the company ECK Group - which was selected as the strategic partner by the Kedah state government to develop the Kulim Airport – cancelled their proposal in July last year.
However, Anwar said, the Kedah government could submit a proposal to be examined by the Finance Ministry, if the latter wished to continue with the project.
Earlier today, Sanusi had disputed Transport Minister Anthony Loke's claim that the state had not filed an application for the state's Aerotropolis project.
Responding to Loke, Sanusi published a lengthy eight-page statement, chronicling all engagements the state has had with Putrajaya in regard to the Kedah Aerotropolis.
He said the state government has been engaging with Loke's predecessors and previous administrations since August 2020, and had even submitted a draft of the final plan to the Transport Ministry's aviation division on Jan 18.
The Kedah Aerotropolis is a megaproject that will include the planned Kulim International Airport, and a logistics and manufacturing hub - all of which Sanusi said did not require federal financing.
He had said the project would be a private initiative and fully funded by investments from local firms.
However, the state has been hitting a roadblock with the current administration in regard to the project. - Mkini
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