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Guan Eng hits out at Barisan’s Teng over Penang airport issue

Khairy pilih jalan gelap, ikut jejak ekstrem Perkasa, kata DAP

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pic) has hit out at state Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow over his claims that the Penang International Airport does not require expansion and that the state has no proper long-term plan for the airport.

In a statement today, Lim said that as the airport was owned, operated and regulated by the federal government, the state has to comply with the Transport Ministry’s decisions on any expansion plans.

He said the ministry had appointed the contractors for the RM250 million expansion project carried out at the airport two years ago.

"The state government had no say and was not consulted and yet BN blamed the state government for the flooding at the airport.

"Is BN also going to blame the Penang government for the airport roof leaking every time it rains or for its dirty toilets?"

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said that priority should be given to expanding the Penang International Airport to two runways, and building an integrated air cargo hub as well as a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility because it would be cheaper, more productive and economically feasible to leverage on the state's position as a world-class electrical and electronic cluster, manufacturing hub, tourism destination and services sector.

He said expanding the Penang airport would cost RM600 million, compared with building a new airport in Kulim at a cost of RM2 billion.

Lim also said that the Penang International Airport has been the second or the third busiest passenger airport in Malaysia for the last six years because of Penang's strong tourist arrivals and health tourism.

"The Penang air cargo facility is also the top two most profitable in Malaysia. Penang is also first in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) from 2010 to August 2013 with RM 19.7 billion or nearly 20% of Malaysia's total FDI.

"As FDIs focus on exports, there is huge potential for future increasing volumes in air cargo. Furthermore, the growing services industry in Penang promises possibilities and opportunities which can benefit the establishment of an integrated air cargo hub and a MRO facility, since there is none in the northern region.

"It is untrue for Teng to claim that the services industry alone with the existing companies of Wilmar, IHS and Citigroup, which was set up after 2010 justifies the need for two runways. The strong growth in the sectors of manufacturing FDI, services and tourism justify the need for an expansion airport upgrade."

Lim also complained that the growing congestion at the Penang International Airport has resulted in public complaints that the domestic departure lounge looked like a "pasar malam" at times.

Last year, the airport recorded 5.5 million passengers and is expected to reach the maximum capacity of 6.5 million passengers by next year.

Yesterday, Teng who is also Penang Gerakan chairman, criticised the state’s runway, cargo and MRO hub request.

He said the infrastructure may become white elephants without proper planning by the state.

"Penang International Airport's passenger movement is only 10% of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok airport, which operate on two runways. Heathrow Airport is also running on two runways being the busiest airport in Europe.

"The airfreight or cargo movement for the airport has also fallen sharply from 225,992 tonnes per year in 2006 to 153,703 tonnes per year in 2013. How can this justify a second runway?"

Teng also accused the state of trying to cover up its weaknesses and not tell the truth, when it claimed that major investment from food edible giant, Wilmar International, US company IHS and a few more justify the two-runway upgrade. – June 21, 2014.