ALOR SETAR, March 15 — The Kedah government has urged the federal government to consider allowing it to implement the Kulim International Airport Project (KXP).

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state needed the Transport Ministry’s (MoT) approval before it could undertake land acquisition works for the project to build the proposed airport terminal complex.

"This is because we need a runway as an enabler for the cargo industry, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) hub. Approvals for terminals and runways come under the ministry’s jurisdiction,” he told a press conference after the Kedah State Assembly sitting here today.

Muhammad Sanusi said the ministry could revisit old files on the KXP development which were provided by the state government, as the project had been planned since 2013.

"The minister just needs to refer to his officers handling this matter (KXP project),” he said, adding that he was still waiting for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to set a date for the state government to give a comprehensive briefing on the project.

Earlier, when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks on Sultan of Kedah Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah’s royal address in the state assembly, Muhammad Sanusi gave a chronology of events on the proposal to develop KXP.

The Menteri Besar said, among others, he had sent a letter to the prime minister on Jan 25 this year seeking an appointment to hold a briefing session on the Kedah Aerotropolis Project including KXP.

"On Jan 18, 2023, the Kedah Aerotropolis Master Plan Report was submitted to get comment, agreement and support from MOT. The Air Division of MOT received a hardcopy of the report on Jan 31, 2023,” he said. — Bernama