GEORGE TOWN: Even though an extended Penang airport and a new one in Kulim are only at the proposal stages, they have already run into turbulence.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow are at cross purposes over the two projects.
Lim wants the Penang BN chief to state that he did not object to the extra runway for the Penang airport and he was not in favour of a new airport in Kulim.
But, Teng had already said that he has no objection to the extra runway and he is against the Kulim airport.
He has also stated that the Penang BN objected to the proposed international airport in Kulim.
But Lim again demanded Teng to declare his stand on the matter in a press statement here today.
Lim said Teng should not try to distract attention but to answer his question on what’s the real stand of the Penang BN on the airport issue as Penang Umno supported Kedah’s proposal to have a RM1.6 billion international airport in Kulim.
Teng, however has said that he never opposed the proposed expansion project for Penang International Airport (PIA), including another runway probably on reclaimed sea land, a new integrated air cargo hub and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.
He also declared that the Penang BN does not support Kedah’s new airport proposal, notwithstanding Umno’s support for it.
“Whether BN and Umno have different stands on the Kedah airport proposal is for us to resolve internally.
“As for the Penang BN, we oppose the proposed Kulim airport,” Teng said.
Indeed, Teng said unlike him, Lim had actually given conditional blessing for the Kedah airport proposal by demanding the federal government fund its PIA expansion project if the Kulim airport got underway.
Teng, also the Gerakan state chairman, said he had only demanded Lim to justify the PIA proposal with correct facts and figures.
