Nothing to worry about, Guan Eng tells Penang on Kulim airport

Nothing to worry about, Guan Eng tells Penang on Kulim airport

The former CM says the proposed airport in Kedah will not cost the federal government any money.

Lim Guan Eng urges the Penang government to cool off its objections over the plan to build a new airport in neighbouring Kedah.
GEORGE TOWN:
Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has sought to allay concerns from the state government over a plan to build a new airport in neighbouring Kedah, saying the project will not be financed by Putrajaya.

The finance minister, who is also the assemblyman for Air Putih, told the the Penang state assembly yesterday that the state should also review its objections over the Kulim airport plan.

He said construction of the airport will be privately financed, similar to the project to upgrade the Penang International Airport.

He said the money saved from the airport project could instead be used to upgrade KLIA.

Lim was answering a question by Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubok), who asked if the Kulim airport would bring adverse effects to Penang’s economy.

Earlier, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Padang Kota) said studies showed that Penang would stand to lose if the Kulim airport was built.

Kedah recently got the green light to build the new airport at a cost of RM1.6 billion, to be funded through a private finance initiative.

Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir said a special purpose vehicle company, KXP Airport City Holding Sdn Bhd, would look into developing the project.

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