Published: Friday December 19, 2008 MYT 3:14:00 PM
Updated: Friday December 19, 2008 MYT 8:11:07 PM
Lack of space to extend Ipoh airport runway, says Tee Keat
By SYLVIA LOOI
IPOH: The runway of the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport cannot be extended due to lack of space, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said.
He said the airport, which was currently underutilised, was surrounded by a mountain and adjacent to it were densely populated residential areas. “If we talk about extending the airport runway, do you have the space for the extension? We certainly can’t extend it vertically,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Ipoh Timur MCA division’s 59th anniversary dinner here on Thursday, Ong said the Federal Government was not facing financial constraints or lacked commitment in not extending the airport runway.
Earlier this month, Perak executive councillor in charge of transport Nga Kor Ming had reportedly urged the Government to fulfil its promise to improve and expand the airport.
Ong stressed that his ministry had never held the view that Ipoh be by-passed for whatever development plans.
“In fact, Ipoh has been chosen as a key destination for our railway transportation,” he said, citing the double tracking railway project as an example.
“Now we are on a threshold of bringing new changes to Ipoh and Kinta Valley. Hopefully by the time the double tracking project is completed, Perak people can reap more economic returns,” he added.
On Nga’s suggestion that the Government hand over the authority of the airport if it was incapable of developing it, Ong said Nga was playing populist politics. “The way he spoke and presented the argument shows that he is ignorant of the basic requirement of an airport,” he said, adding that the extension of the airport runway needed to be International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) compliant.
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