KUALA LUMPUR – Rumours that the government plans to sell Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) to a private entity are false, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam-BN).
During Wee’s Budget 2022 winding-up speech at the Dewan Rakyat, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Independent) pointed to a letter showing opposition from Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB), and Malaysian Airlines Bhd to a plan involving a leasehold extension to 2092.
Saddiq mentioned that there were plans to repurpose Subang Airport, which only serves turboprop planes now.
It is understood that Saddiq was referring to a letter from Khazanah to former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin concerning the risks of selling Subang Airport to WCT Holdings.
Explaining the issue, Wee said there are plans to develop the area where the airport is located.
He said Khazanah, for example, has plans to create an ecosystem that would revive private jet operations in the area.
“If you see our Federal Aviation Administration rating for Subang Airport, we dropped to category two.
“It is my commitment to bring us back to category one status, because our maintenance, repair, operations products and services would have added value,” Wee told the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Ayer Hitam MP then explained that on the Khazanah-owned lands where the airport is located, an ecosystem can be built to develop the city of Subang.
Nevertheless, Wee emphasised that there are demands from residents, particularly those in Subang and Damansara, for a city airport.
With that, he assured that the government will not approve the sale or acquisition of the airport to/by a private company.
“The rights to operate Subang Airport are maintained as mentioned in the lease agreement to MAHB.
“MAHB is tasked with expanding the airport as an aerospace hub internationally as decided by the cabinet in 2005,” Wee added. – The Vibes, November 16, 2021
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