ISKANDAR PUTERI: Putrajaya has yet to give the green light for an airport in Mersing, says State Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri.
He said the request for the airport and the RM3mil feasibility study was made by the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) and not the state government.
However, the request for allocation was not approved by the Finance Ministry, he said.
“Until now, the Transport Ministry has yet to receive any proposal from the state government about building an airport in Mersing,” he said.
Solihan said this in his reply to Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (BN-Layang-Layang) during the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here yesterday.
He pointed out that the proposal was only made known to the Transport Ministry through a meeting with ECER where the ministry had said the suggestion was not a pressing matter.
Solihan said at the time, the ministry was also reviewing the request of building an airport at Pulau Tioman, which is near to Mersing.
He, however, stressed that the ministry received a proposal paper from a private company to operate the airport in Mersing.
“At present, the Transport Ministry is working closely with Malaysia Aviation Commissioner to carry out National Airports Strategic Plan (NASP).
“The NASP will be suggesting the need to build or upgrade airports throughout Malaysia where it is expected to be finalised by December next year,” he said.
Solihan said findings from the study would be used by the ministry to decide on the development airports in Malaysia.
He said the request for the airport and the RM3mil feasibility study was made by the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) and not the state government.
However, the request for allocation was not approved by the Finance Ministry, he said.
“Until now, the Transport Ministry has yet to receive any proposal from the state government about building an airport in Mersing,” he said.
Solihan said this in his reply to Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (BN-Layang-Layang) during the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here yesterday.
He pointed out that the proposal was only made known to the Transport Ministry through a meeting with ECER where the ministry had said the suggestion was not a pressing matter.
Solihan said at the time, the ministry was also reviewing the request of building an airport at Pulau Tioman, which is near to Mersing.
He, however, stressed that the ministry received a proposal paper from a private company to operate the airport in Mersing.
“At present, the Transport Ministry is working closely with Malaysia Aviation Commissioner to carry out National Airports Strategic Plan (NASP).
“The NASP will be suggesting the need to build or upgrade airports throughout Malaysia where it is expected to be finalised by December next year,” he said.
Solihan said findings from the study would be used by the ministry to decide on the development airports in Malaysia.
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