The state government will consider expanding Penang International Airport on one of the reclaimed islands at the state’s southern post in Bayan Lepas.

“This is a holistic proposal to develop Penang’s economy. The proposal to build a new airport on the reclaimed land is an option we will consider,” Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said at the state legislative assembly today.

He was replying to questions by Bukit Tambun assemblyperson Goh Choon Aik who asked what is the status of the Penang International Airport’s upgrade.

He also asked about the Penang government’s stand on the proposed Kulim International Airport (KXP).

“Would the proposed reclamation project in the southern post include the proposal to build a new airport?” Goh asked in his written question to the Penang government.

The creation of three islands in the southern post, covering 1,821ha, is part of the state’s massive Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

Development on the islands is expected to fund the PTMP, and other projects, like the Pan-Island Link 1 project, but the move has been criticised by NGOs, which prefer the state to focus on developing public transport.

Chow said the Transport Ministry needs to review the construction of the Kulim airport to ensure the development is “holistic and beneficial” to all quarters.

He added that while the Kulim airport has been approved by the federal government, the Penang International Airport’s cargo capacity has yet to be fully met.

“Building another cargo airport in Kulim, located about 50km away, will have a big impact on Penang when the latter's cargo capacity has not achieved its full capacity yet,” Chow said.

“However, before we protest against the Kulim airport, on the principles of comradeship (setiakawan), we will study the proposal properly first on whether there is truly a need for another airport in the north,” Chow said during a question-and-answer session at state assembly.

According to Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, the private sector would be funding the RM1.66 billion Kulim airport.

Chow said Penang’s Economic Planning Unit has studied the two reports by consultants from Kedah on the proposal to build the airport in Kulim and found that it would have a great negative impact on the state and Penang International Airport.

He said when Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir presented the Kulim airport report, it was only a plan to build a cargo airport.

However, it is learnt that a passenger and cargo airport had been approved for Kulim.

“Every state has the right to development. We hope that any development project would benefit both states, and the impact on Penang would be positive.

“We don't want a situation where Penang would lose massively from the project,” he added.

Penang International Airport passenger capacity has reached 9,100,888, from January 2018 to February this year, with 597,300 visitors (January to February 2019), and 3,607,308 for 2018.

As for domestic passengers, the number of visitors for 2018 were 4,183,115 and 713,165 (January to February 2019).

Chow said the Transport Ministry and Malaysian Airport Holdings are planning to upgrade and expand the airport.

“They will also resolve the issue of safety and congestion of the airport. Our airport capacity is only 6.5 million visitors, and the upgrade will allow the airport to receive 12 million visitors,” Chow added.

He also announced that two consultants - Consortium CPG Consultants Pte Ltd and AHS Architects Sdn Bhd - have been appointed in February, via open tender, to work on the upgrade and expansion of the Penang airport.

The project is expected to kick off in June 2020 and will take 36 months to complete.