PETALING JAYA: The request to increase the number of international flights to the Penang International Airport to boost tourism in the state will be studied by the Transport Ministry, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Transport Minister said the proposal from the Penang government includes attracting more foreign airlines to add the state airport as a destination.
"This request will be forwarded to the Malaysian Aviation Commission for further review and action," he said in a Facebook post on Saturday (June 4).
Earlier, Dr Wee, who is also MCA president, was in George Town, Penang and met the state's tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin for an hour.
Also present was Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.
"During our meeting, we touched on the efforts by the Federal Government in reviving the economy post-Covid-19, especially after the re-opening of our country's borders beginning April 1, that has impacted the tourism industry," Dr Wee said.
He added that he also told Yeoh about plans to expand the Penang International Airport and updated him about the status of the study on the National Airports Strategic Plan.
Dr Wee said the leaders also discussed preparations to receive cruise ship passengers to the Penang Port in July.
He said Tan had reported to them that the new catamaran service for passengers, bicycles and motorcycles, which will replace the old ferries under Penang Port Sdn Bhd under a RM30mil allocation from the federal government, is in the process of being constructed in Vietnam.
It is expected to be fully ready by the middle of next year.
"The ministry is always ready to assist the Tourism and Culture Ministry and the Penang government by continuing our good relationship between the federal and state governments to spur on economic activities and tourism development for the benefit of the people.
"I'm committed to ensuring no state is left behind or sidelined from receiving the benefits that the ministry is working on as to me, the people's interests always come first," Dr Wee said.
