THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has received the planning permission from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to expand the Penang International Airport (PIA).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the council was processing the application and it would normally take about 108 days to process the application.
“Our engineer has just reported that they (MAHB) have submitted the planning permission. The council is processing the application for them to go ahead with the building plan and to start their construction works.
“It is a matter for MAHB and the Federal Government to decide on the funding model.
“It is very crucial for the airport upgrading and expansion works go ahead; whether it is for a capacity of 12 million, 16 million or 20 million passengers a year.
“We are operating beyond the capacity of the airport. We can easily hit eight million passengers this year, when the airport was built for a 6.5 million capacity,” he said.
With regard to the Kulim airport, Chow said: “The Penang government holds Kedah’s commitment that it is a cargo airport.
“So, if it is to go ahead, it is a cargo airport. That is our view,” Chow said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud