The former prime minister said he had announced the project at Seri Iskandar, 40km from Ipoh, before the 14th general election.

He said on Facebook today that the plot of land for the new airport was gazetted and handed to the Perak state development corporation (PKNP) by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

“But the Perak MB has disclosed that the land was sold during the PH administration, between 2018 and 2019.”

However, Najib said Asmuni Awi, a former Perak exco member during PH’s rule, and Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming had instead claimed to not know anything about the sale being carried out when PH was in power.

Asmuni, who is also Perak Amanah chief, had said the issue over the sale had never been raised or discussed during state executive council meetings.

He said he only found out about it after Nga, who is also the Aulong assemblyman, brought it up during the state assembly sitting on Tuesday.

It was reported that plans to expand the existing Ipoh airport were abandoned as there was not enough land and the appearance of potholes nearby.