GEORGE TOWN – DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has accused his arch nemesis MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong of misleading the public in Penang over the proposed expansion of the international airport in Bayan Lepas, here.
Addressing a press conference, Lim said that there was no mention of any airport expansion in the 2018 federal budget, which he had apparently tabled.
Showing a graph of the 2018 federal budget development expenditure estimate, it showed that RM34 million was allocated to upgrade airports in Peninsular Malaysia, but none was allotted for Penang at that juncture.
“Incidentally, the RM34 million allocated was also too little for Penang. The airport here requires an upgrade which may exceed RM700 million for an expansion drive.”
Wee had earlier told journalists here that an allocation was accorded by the Finance Ministry in the 2018 budget, but it was later rescinded by the cabinet.
On Wee’s accusation that Lim preferred to pursue a private financing initiative (PFI), Lim replied that it was the national airport operator, Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd, who had mooted such a concept and on who they wanted to partner with.
Lim said that Wee had mistakenly claimed that there were funds specifically for the airport when, in actuality, there were none.
Also, Lim urged Wee to respond on his willingness to debate the matter, calling for it to be done before polling commences on Saturday.
It was reported that Wee had claimed that Lim had sought a private partner to expand the project through a PFI instead of the public funds available for the Penang airport.
The Penang airport, which was adjudged to be the third busiest after KLIA / klia2 in Sepang, was last upgraded in 2012.
It is able to handle 6.5 million passengers per year. However, passenger traffic has exceeded 6.5 million since 2019.
Consequently, the airport is now struggling to meet the demands of a surge in passenger traffic, especially having recently been inundated by flash floods.
Lim also urged Wee to reveal who was behind the alleged sabotage of the LRT Kelana Jaya line in the Klang Valley after the system was forced to shut down for the past few days.
At press time, Wee could not be reached for comment. – The Vibes, November 15, 2022
