Kota Bharu MP calls on Putrajaya to allocate funds for the upgrading of
state airport in view it is the second busiest in the country and with
Putrajaya aiming to transform Malaysia into a regional aviation hub.
KUALA LUMPUR: Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan today urged Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak to consider allocating a budget for the
upgrading of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (KBR) in Kelantan as Putrajaya
is harbouring the ambition of transforming Malaysia into a regional
aviation hub.
The PAS MP urged the federal government not to sideline Kelantan,
“just because we (the state) are ruled by a party that is not part of
the federal ruling coalition.”
“I hope the prime minister, in his review of Budget 2014, will
allocate funds for the upgrading of KBR,” Takiyuddin told reporters
outside parliament today.
“After all, tourists who visit Kelantan are tourists who visit
Malaysia,” he added, referring to Putrajaya’s Visit Malaysia Year (VMY)
2014.
Takiyuddin disclosed that KBR was the second busiest airport in the
country, receiving 1.259 million visitors in 2012 – an 11 percent
increase from 1.132 million visitors the year before.
“So you can imagine how many visitors the airport will have in 2013
or 2014 during VMY,” he said, adding that the KBR could only accommodate
a maximum of 1.4 million passengers.
He also disclosed that the current length and width of the runway as 2,400m and 45m respectively. “I hope the federal government will consider extending its length to
3,500m and width to 60m as big aeroplanes are unable to land at the
runway right now,” he said.
“The Kelantan government has acquired plenty of land which are not used to plant coconuts. They can use that land,” he added.
Takiyuddin then pointed out that AirAsia chief executive officer
Tony Fernandes had recently referred to KBR as the next AirAsia hub.
“Therefore, I urged the government to allocate some funds to develop KBR along with the other listed airports.”
During the announcement of Budget 2014, Najib had bolstered the
government’s emphasis on the aviation industry as Putrajaya aimed at
transforming Malaysia into a regional aviation hub.
The government vowed to upgrade several airports such as those in
Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan in Sabah as well as Miri, Sibu and Mukah in
Sarawak.
Najib also said the tourism sector was expected to generate a revenue
of RM65bil by the end of this year and was anticipated to rake in more.
Source: Free Malaysia Today Online | 30 Oct. 2013
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