Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng in Georgetown on Wednesday, 11^th March 2009: 

Penang still seeking approval for a LCCT, asks private sector to apply for a MRO 

Penang welcomes the announcement made by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday in Parliament of a RM 250 million expansion project for the Penang International Airport, which is a culmination of many months work by both the Federal and state government. However despite the refusal to approve a LCCT for Penang, the state government will continue to press for a new LCCT, which will be needed if Penang is to succeed in transforming itself into an international city that is a destination of choice for tourists, a location of choice for investors and habitat of choice for those who desire sustainable living.

Penang has no natural resources to fight the coming economic crisis. We have no choice but to leverage on our human resources and our geographical position as a logistics hub and international gateway for tourists, high-tech manufacturing, biotechnology, green technology and halal hub. To succeed Penang must have a functional airport with all the modern facilities and amenities. We are not only talking about basic comfort such as toilets but also about modern necessities such as free Wifi.

The State government would also like to ask private sector to write to Finance Ministry in order to apply for MRO.

In his written reply to my question on 2 March 2009 released to me yesterday, Ministry of Transport Datuk Ong Tee Keat said:-

“……buat masa ini, Kerajaan tidak bercadang untuk membina sebuah Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)[di Pulau Pinang]. Mengenai Pusat Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) pula, adalah dimaklumkan bahawa kemudahan ini adalah dimajukan oleh pihak swasta. Sehingga kini, Kerajaan tidak menerima sebarang cadangan untuk mendirikan Pusat MRO di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

Namun begitu, sebagaimana yang telah saya jelaskan dalam jawapan kepada soalan yang sama yang telah dibangkitkan oleh Ahli Yang Berhormat Bagan, pada 23 Februari 2009 yang lalu bahawa Kementerian Pengangkutan sememangnya bercadang untuk manaik taraf lapangan terbang tersebut. Apa yang telah diambil tindakan oleh Kementerian adalah perancangan untuk Projek Menaik Taraf Lapangan Terbang tersebut yang akan dipohon di dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 (RMKe-10) kelak. Di antara komponen projek utama yang akan dipohon di bawah RMKe-10 meliputi pemanjangan landasan untuk pesawat B747-400 tanpa had muatan, tambahan parking apron, pembesaran kemudahan kargo, pembesaran bangunan terminal serta pengasingan aliran penumpang domestic dan antarabangsa. Memandangkan projek tersebut masih lagi di peringkat awal perancangan, maka Kementerian pada ketika ini tidak dapat menentukan kos serta proses perolehan yang akan dilaksanakan.”

* Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General & Penang Chief Minister; Member of Parliament for Bagan