ALOR STAR – The Kulim International Airport (KXP) as a Kedah aerotropolis will function as the “Luxembourg” of the Asean countries and as a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre for aircraft in the region when it begins operations in 2026.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said Kedah is planning to be the country’s international cargo hub for Asean.
“The Kedah aerotropolis will function as a cargo importer and distributor for the nation and the region, rather than functioning as a passenger airport,” he said during his interview on RTM’s TV1’s Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme today.
He said he will ask Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to help expedite the approval of the project as it will be a 100% private initiative estimated to cost RM1.6 billion.
“If approval is granted, the Kedah aerotropolis will be operational by 2026 in accordance with the state’s Selangkah Kedah 2035 vision.
“The Kedah aerotropolis will be a replica of Luxembourg in Europe, which functions as the cargo hub and importer and distributor of goods for the entire continent.
“Some quarters expressed uneasiness when the project was announced, but it will focus on being the cargo hub of the nation and for the Asean region,” he added.
He, however, stopped short on elaborating on the airport’s role as a MRO, which encompasses maintenance activities done to ensure the safety and airworthiness of an air transport vehicle.
Meanwhile, Sanusi added that the Kulim High-Tech Park (KHTP) will be the world’s biggest solar panel manufacturing plant with an investment of RM42.2 billion, which is set to create several thousand jobs for Kedahans.
“The plant, which is under construction, has the biggest direct foreign investment in the country so far. In addition, an Austrian solar panel manufacturing company is investing RM8.5 billion in KHTP.
“Kedah would become the country’s largest solar panel manufacturer in the country as more solar manufacturers are expected to invest in KHTP.
“All this is possible as the Kulim Municipal Council has a programme known as E10, where approvals for investment projects at KHTP are conducted in an expedited manner to accommodate investors.
“Investors nowadays want things to happen fast and we need to accommodate them according to the speed (they want),” he added.
Commenting on development projects in Langkawi, he said a private company, Open Road Sdn Bhd, is investing RM4.3 billion in the 1.4km racing track at Bukit Malut. However, the company has yet to announce its investment in the project.
“We will also ask the federal government to lay marine water pipes to Langkawi to transport water to the island, which is set to undergo rapid development in the future, and as its population increases, the water demand will also increase and we need to prepare for Langkawi’s future water needs.
“The present 46km marine water pipes are damaged and we need to repair them to avoid water supply interruption to the island. We need to conduct an audit on existing marine water pipes to Langkawi to access their worthiness,” Sanusi said. – The Vibes, November 23, 2021
