Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow welcomed news of the expansion of the Penang International Airport project as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the 2023 Budget.
“We hope that with the expansion of the airport, it can cater to some 20 million passengers a year.
“The airport expansion will be able to boost the socio-economic development of the Northern Corridor states as well as Penang’s tourism and industry.
“The Penang government will give its full support to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) in the implementation of this project. We hope that the project can start this year and be completed in three years,” said Chow in a press statement.
Meanwhile, State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Yeoh Soon Hin echoed the positive news.
“I would like to express my gratitude for the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, for the recent financial allocation towards the expansion of Penang International Airport under 2023 Budget.
“I had also spoken previously with the Minister of Transport Anthony Loke Siew Fook on the expansion plan of Penang International Airport, in hopes that the airport expansion project can take-off immediately with the support of the federal government.
“My office has been actively engaging with various international airlines to develop direct flights to Penang, but the limitation of airport apron and passenger handling capacity has become a major hindrance to start new direct flight routes, which makes the 2023 Budget allocation for the airport expansion all the more crucial.
“Penang State as the aviation hub of Northern Malaysia plays a vital role in driving and promoting the tourism industry in Northern Malaysia. Therefore, I hope that this budget can be approved in the third reading,” said Yeoh in a press statement.