Proposal for New Airport in Bota, Perak Has Been Received

The Ministry of Transport has received a proposal from the Perak state government to develop a new airport in the Perak Tengah district, said State Executive Councillor for Health, Public Transport, Non-Islamic Affairs, National Integration and New Villages, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

He said the development project at the Cempaka Sari Industrial Gateway (GPCS) in Mukim Bota and Lambor Kanan, covering 4,176.7 hectares of state land, will be implemented by Malaysian Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRCB).

Dr Mah said his office received feedback from the ministry regarding the proposal to build the new airport via a letter dated October 24. "The letter, among other things, stated that the ministry had held a meeting with the Malaysian Aviation Commission, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, MRCB, the state government, and several agencies under it on May 8. "In that meeting, MRCB informed that the construction of the airport at GPCS is conceptualized as a free trade zone, transport hub, integrated cargo terminal, international gateway, and an economic, education, and housing development zone," he said during a press conference outside the State Legislative Assembly session today.

Dr Mah added that the meeting also decided for MRCB to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the proposal and appoint KPMG, a consulting firm, to prepare the final report.

"Once the final report is completed, it will be presented to the National Economic Council, which is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak," he said. In this regard, Dr Mah, who is also the Chenderiong assemblyman, denied opposition claims that the new airport would not be built. "What was quoted and stated by Kepayang assemblyman Nga Kor Ming during the debate session (Perak Budget 2018) was a twisted statement," he said. He added that the ministry, together with the state government, will hold another meeting next Tuesday to discuss the construction of the new airport further.

"The state government is indeed serious and prioritizes the development of the airport. The ministry is not arbitrarily taking a private company's (MRCB) proposal, but it is going through the state government," he said. Source - Bernama