Perak Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir must stop misleading and giving false hope to Perakians that an international airport will be built in Perak.
I have received a Parliamentary reply that the Federal Government has no plan to build the international airport proposed by the Perak Government at Bagan Serai, Perak.
In a media conference in 2014, Dato’ Seri Zambry had announced that an international airport was being planned at Bagan Serai. He said that the proposal had been submitted in 2010 to the Federal Government and was awaiting approval.
It is with regret that the BN Perak Government was not able to get the said proposed airport approved even though it will not involved any financial commitment from either the Perak State Government or the Federal Government.
The said proposed airport project at Bagan Serai was a Private Financial Initiative (PFI) where Sime Darby will contribute the land and Air Asia will come up with the construction costs.
The proposed Bagan Serai airport is only 15 minutes drive to the Penang Second Bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge). This proposed international airport will be able to serve both Penang as well as Perak. One of the reasons Air Asia is keen on this location is because of its nearness to Penang. It can then get the required passenger volume from both Penang and Perak to make it a viable business concern.
Penang international airport has reached its full capacity with about 6.0 million passengers a year. This additional international airport will help complement the services provided by the Penang international airport and not compete with it.
I call on the people of Perak not to be misled by Dato Seri Zambry if he makes another announcement that an international airport will be built in Perak as it will be made solely to gain votes for the coming 14th General Election.