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PUTRAJAYA: The National Council for Physical Planning (MPFN) has limited itself to approving in principle the development project of the Kulim International Airport (KXP), Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong (pix) said today.
It said approval in principle, granted on October 27, was subject to further consideration by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and other government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior, the Department of the Environment, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Civil Aviation. Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
Wee said the KXP proposal was also subject to the findings of the National Airports Strategic Plan (NASP), which will begin early next year for the 42 existing airports in the country and those in the proposal stage.
“Final approval for the KXP development proposal will only be considered upon completion of the NASP study,” it said in a statement.
The proposal should also meet all the preconditions established by the agencies involved, which are outlined in technical reports such as the Environmental Impact Assessments, the Social Impact Assessments and the Traffic Impact Assessments, he said.
He was clarifying a statement by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on October 28 regarding the “approval” of KXP.
Muhammad Sanusi had said that the KXP construction was officially approved during the MPFN meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and according to him, this was the first official approval for the project since it was proposed in 2014.
In response to that, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said on October 29 that the KXP project had only been submitted to the MPFN for advice, and that its progress status was the same as that of the Recovery project. South Penang (PSR).
Digging deeper into the matter, Wee said the KXP project owner would be asked to provide pertinent information to NASP consultants with realistic and accurate projections, especially as it relates to demands for passenger and cargo services and airlines that have engaged with KXP, particularly during the post Covid-19 Era period.
He said the basis for the KXP development proposal used by the project proponent was to complement passenger and cargo handling, currently provided by Penang International Airport (PEN).
“In this regard, it is prudent to review the proposed KXP development at a time when PEN is approaching maximum handling capacity. Therefore, passenger and cargo demands must be based on robust and reliable facts and data that take into account PEN’s maximum capacity and the feasibility of the KXP project, ”he said.
Wee said the MOT welcomed all proposals from both state governments and the private sector to build airports.
However, he emphasized that MOT was obligated to ensure that these projects were viable and sustainable, as well as meeting all technical requirements established by CAAM and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM). -Called
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