GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has accused MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong of confusing people over the deferment of the proposed expansion plans of the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas here.
State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari said that contrary to Wee’s allegation, it was the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) government that had halted plans to expand the airport and not the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration that took power from May 2018 to February 2020.
In fact, the PH government had given funding and approval for the project in 2019, said Zairil, who oversees the infrastructure portfolio for the state government.
“I think it is another misdirection by Wee. It is unfair to the people,” Zairil told a press conference here today.
He said this after witnessing the launch of the upgraded passenger pass ticket system for Rapid Penang stage bus rides for the island.
“We must be genuine and honest in our obligations to serve as politicians. The key word is to serve, not to distract or distort matters."
He said in principle, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), which manages all public airports, has agreed to expand the airport as it is among the busiest in the country – owing to the state’s industrial and tourism sectors.
In 2019, the Finance Ministry under minister Lim Guan Eng agreed to the expansion. Public allocation was given to MAHB to ensure the airport can cater up to 12 million passengers per annum compared to the present 6.5 million which is near full capacity, he said.
In December of the same year, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) gave approval for construction to commence.
However, a few months later in 2020, the PH government was brought down and a “backdoor government” took power through the infamous "Sheraton move". This resulted in the expansion plan being frozen, he claimed.
“It was at the construction stage, but now it is the opposite. The airport is struggling to manage – with its social amenities under undue pressure together with its restrooms,” he said, adding that there were even instances of flash flooding.
Wee had said during his visit to Penang yesterday that the decision by Lim, who is presently DAP chairman, to invite a private sector initiative (PSI) for the project when he was finance minister had hampered approval to upgrade the airport.
He said that BN approved the airport for an upgrade in 2017, as the facility had reached its maximum in cargo and passenger handling.
Wee, who was transport minister from 2020 until Parliament was dissolved last month, said that he uncovered this when inspecting the ministry’s records and getting input from the Finance Ministry.
Asked about the PSI, Zairil said that it may have been Lim’s idea. However, the principle was that Lim had approved the project through the ministry, and the subsequent government led by BN decided not to follow through, he stressed. – The Vibes, November 8, 2022
