Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said an investor from Canada had shown a keen interest to have a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre for small-scale commercial planes in the area.

He said the investor had presented a proposal on the matter three months ago.

“They have searched the area on Google Maps and found that Bagan Datuk is not surrounded by mountains or hills.

“This area is flat and suitable for a mini airport to be built for jet or commercial aircraft,” he told reporters after attending a feast in Kampung Banang, Hutan Melintang, here today.

Zahid said the investor would carry out a detailed study on the land first to determine whether the soil was suitable or needed treatment.

If the proposal is accepted, he said he would personally ask United Plantations Berhad (UP Berhad) chief executive officer Carl Bek-Nielsen to help expand the estate’s mini airport.

“I will also discuss with the management of Bagan Datuk Polytechnic to create an aviation engineering faculty as they already have a marine engineering faculty and automotive engineering faculty,” he added.