ALOR STAR – Kedah has defended its decision to allow for the planning of the Kulim International Airport (KXP) despite the federal government apparently leaving out the project during the tabling of the revised Budget 2023.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that the KXP is an integral part of the mega Kedah Aerotropolis project.
Firstly, KXP is a private initiative which is developed as a high-impact economic project in the northern region, Sanusi said in a statement here.
“It is developed through a private investment initiative, and it does not involve federal funding.”
“In this context, the only requirement from the KXP is for the cooperation of the federal agencies such as the Civil Aviation Department besides the Transport Ministry for the approval process,” he added.
KXP is part of the greater Aerotropolis concept.
It is designed to be the catalyst for a high-tech industrial park which specialises in aerospace and aviation.
Within the Aerotropolis is the development of Sidam as a logistic aerospace manufacturing hub, where the core business in the district would be the maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the aviation sector.
Furthermore, Sanusi stressed that KXP will not be developed as a commercial airport but as a cargo hub to ferry materials needed for the aviation industry.
The necessary connectivity was already planned prior to the tabling of the budget, with the construction of a northern corridor highway linking Kedah through Sg Petani and Bandar Baharu with Penang and Perak.
Sanusi also disclosed that a rail track is also being designed to connect KXP with Tasek Gelugor in Penang and Sg Petani while KXP is slated to be situated within the three districts of Kulim, Sg Petani and Baling.
“KXP is not developed to compete with Penang or any other state. It is built to complement efforts to diversify the manufacturing competencies up north.”
Sanusi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may not be given the exact picture of what the international airport is all about.
“We plan to brief him about KXP. As of now, Kedah has dispatched two letters requesting to meet the prime minister but there has yet to be any feedback.”
Sanusi hopes that he can meet Anwar soon over the project, citing that KXP captures the aspiration of Kedahans, who are yearning for more development in the state. – The Vibes, February 26, 2023
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