KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 — Kedah has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to consider approving the Kedah Aerotropolis project which will be fully funded by the private sector, insisting that the proposed Kulim airport under the project has a different focus from the Penang and Subang airports.

On his Facebook page, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor had on Saturday said that the Kedah Aerotropolis project will not involve any federal government funds, and argued that the proposed new industrial and economic centre would not cost more to fund than the federal government’s plans to upgrade the existing airports at Penang and Subang.

"How can the PMX compare the federal government’s project to upgrade two existing airports to the new Kedah Aerotropolis which is fully funded by private investors, purportedly the government’s upgrading project is cheaper?” he asked, referring to Anwar by the moniker PMX which means 10th prime minister.

Last Friday, Anwar had in the Budget 2023 speech said: "To support and attract the influx of investors, businessmen and tourists, the government plans to expand and increase the Penang International Airport’s and Subang Airport’s capabilities. This will be led by MAHB which is expected to benefit the economic growth at a far lower cost compared to building a new airport in Kulim which is expected to cost RM7 billion which cannot be considered under the current situation.”

In the same speech, Anwar did not make any other remarks on the proposed new Kulim airport or on the Kedah Aerotropolis project, including their current status.

Yesterday, Sanusi posted a lengthy statement on his Facebook page to explain the proposed Kedah Aerotropolis project and urged Anwar to support and approve the project at Kuala Muda, Kedah.

Sanusi said the project had already received policy approval and preliminary advice at the National Physical Planning Council on October 27, 2020 and had also received support from the relevant agencies to obtain planning approval for the development concept before moving to the planning approval for detailed design planning in the future.

He spoke of plans for Kedah Aerotropolis to be an aviation industry hub for Asia Pacific with a focus on cargo, logistics, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and as an aerospace excellence centre in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

He said Kedah Aerotropolis could become the "Memphis of Asean” or like Luxembourg or Zhengzhou with its focus on cargo, with plans to handle cargo not handled at any other local airports and with various new cargo facilities.

He said the Kedah Aerotropolis project will start with an integrated logistics hub which would not require an airport with passenger terminals and that such a facility will be developed if there is demand in the future, noting that the proposed Kulim international airport is just one of the project’s sub-component and will act as an enabler to the entire project.

He said the Kedah Aerotropolis project will seek to complement the Penang International Airport in terms of dealing with the projected increase in passengers especially from 2030 onwards.

Comparing the Kedah Aerotropolis project which will be built on a greenfield site where it would be more efficient and easier to plan and develop, he noted that the Penang International Airport upgrading works would have higher construction costs as it is a live airport and the retrofitting concept would cause discomfort to passengers during construction.

He said current limitations meant that the upgrading of the runway and taxiway at Penang International Airport would involve land reclamation works at the sea to extend the runway length which would be costly and have high environmental and socio-economic impact on the locals.

"The existence of Kedah Aerotropolis with cargo, MRO and its aerospace will complement Penang International Airport (PIA) with its passenger’s overspill. This will justify PIA’s expansion,” he said, later also suggesting that PIA is predicted to not be able to handle the trend of fast-rising volume of passengers as any airport design is based on master plans with a lifespan of at least 50 years instead of merely for a five- or 10-year period.

Sanusi said Kedah has so far spent RM28 million for the Kedah Aerotropolis project such as for consultancy fees, marketing works, and project planning, and said the state government hopes a presentation for the project can be arranged soon to enable a detailed explanation to be given to Anwar for a more in-depth understanding of the project.

"Once again, the state government also hopes YAB PM can reconsider and approve the Kedah Aerotropolis project which will provide obvious benefits to the state of Kedah and the northern region,” he said.

Among other things, Sanusi said the Kedah Aerotropolis project was aimed at lifting Kedah from its status as the second-poorest state in the country and reducing its reliance on agriculture, generating job opportunities, increasing the household income of local residents, and said it was projected to increase the annual economic growth of the state.