Study on Kulim International Airport not finalised, says Loke

• “The approval by the National Physical Planning Council prior to this was given only in principle, whereby there needs to be a follow-up application with the transport minister for the aerodrome.”

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): The National Airport Strategic Plan (NASP) study pertaining to the proposed development of the Kulim International Airport (KXP) is yet to be finalised. 

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry had also not received any official application to build an aerodrome for the Kedah Aerotropolis project. 

In this regard, he said there was no question of the government rejecting the proposed development of the project.

“The approval by the National Physical Planning Council prior to this was given only in principle, whereby there needs to be a follow-up application with the transport minister for the aerodrome,” he said during the question-and-answer session in Parliament on Monday (March 20).

Loke was replying to a supplementary question by Datuk Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional-Padang Serai) on the latest development of the NASP study on the KXP and Kedah Aerotropolis.

Responding to Azman's original question regarding the ministry's role in ensuring that the project continues, Loke said a series of discussions and meetings had been held with the Kedah state government to detail out the KXP development proposal.

He said the ministry had informed the developers and the Kedah state government that the proposed KXP development project is subject to the NASP study.

“So far, the Kedah government has submitted a letter, dated Jan 3, 2021, asking the ministry to give permission for the development of the KXP and Kedah Aerotropolis project by giving an exception from the waiting period for the completion of the NASP study, or by using the findings of previous preliminary study data as the interim NASP,” he said.

Loke said applications for aerodrome development projects, including airports in Malaysia, must be made in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act 1969 and related regulations.

He said his ministry is always open to development proposals from state governments or private investors that bring about economic benefits, competitiveness and sustainable development.