“By de-listing MAHB and making it a wholly-owned government entity, Putrajaya will have more leeway to work with other operators to develop airports,” Loke said when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) at the Dewan Rakyat this evening.

Loke (PH-Seremban) said a substantial sum was required to develop or upgrade airports, and a new financing model would be needed.

However, the government was currently tied to an operating agreement with the company, and although it was a government-linked company it was also a publicly-listed one and shareholders would have a say on every decision.

The government would have more leeway by taking MAHB private as “there are many private companies that are keen to develop smaller airports”

Loke also said that he was disappointed that the 12MP did not outline specific plans to upgrade Malaysia’s airports.

He said during his time in the ministry, there were numerous demands from every state to have their airports upgraded. This included Penang, Ipoh, Miri, Tawau and Bintulu.

He said while the aviation industry has contracted during the pandemic, he was confident it would flourish once more in a post-Covid-19 era.

There was a need for the government to plan for the future, Loke said. “Such matters take time. We can’t plan today and upgrade it the next day. It takes years.”