PARLIAMENT | It will be at least another year before Putrajaya can decide on whether to approve the construction of the Tioman airport, which activists have warned would have a disastrous ecological impact.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) told the Dewan Rakyat that apart from approvals from various government agencies, Putrajaya also had to consider the viability of the proposed Tioman airport under the National Airports Strategic Plan (NASP).

Wee said the NASP kicked off in March and would take 18 months to complete. Apart from studying the nation's existing 42 airports, it will also look into proposals to build new ones.

"The study will look at whether the proposed project was viable or not. The project is also being studied by the Department of Environment.

"Therefore, the final approval for the Tioman airport will only be considered once the NASP and approval process for the government agencies (are completed)," he added.

Wee was responding to a question by Anthony Loke (Harapan - Seremban) who asked whether the Tioman airport has received policy approval from the government, whether the project is competitive and meets the criteria for the environmental sustainability.

While Wee confirmed that the National Physical Planning Council had on Oct 27, 2020, agreed in principle that the project can proceed, he said it was still up to the Transport Ministry to issue the Aerodrome Operating Licence (AOL).

He said the project proponent still had to complete 10 technical reports before an AOL can be considered.

In June, Malaysiakini reported that the authorities will have to redraw the Tioman marine park borders if the airport project were to proceed.

The project proponent is linked to conglomerate Berjaya Group and the Pahang royal family.

READ MORE: Plans for new airport spell trouble for Tioman marine park

Activists have warned that apart from environmental damage, Tioman's existing infrastructure for electricity, water and sewage was already at capacity during peak seasons and increasing tourist arrivals would require more infrastructure on the environmentally sensitive island.

Some locals and activists have mooted that an airport on the mainland would be more viable as it would serve more than just tourists.

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