IPOH: A request has been made to Singapore’s low-cost airline Scoot to add more flights between the republic and Ipoh, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said he made the request for more flights, especially during weekends and festive seasons.
“We know there are many Perakians in Simpang Pulai, Bercham and within the Kinta Valley area who work in Singapore and return to Ipoh during the festive seasons,” he told reporters after attending the 22nd Perak DAP annual convention at a hotel here yesterday.
“I believe that by adding more flights, it will help to boost the country and the state’s economy.”
Separately, Loke said private companies are welcome to invest in “less competitive” airports. He said discussions with Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) were held to consider the public-private partnership (PPP) model due to the country’s financial constraint.
“There are airports that are less economical (fewer flights) and MAHB cannot invest in upgrades until it receives funding from the government.
“That is why we need a new method, such as the PPP model, where interested private companies can invest in these airports with terms and conditions.
“Every airport has a service charge for each passenger, so if the airport is competitive, it will get many passengers,” he added.
A PPP is a contractual agreement between the private and public sector that allows for greater private participation in the delivery of projects. Loke also said he had received a request from the Perak government to upgrade the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. “While the state government did suggest for a new airport in Seri Iskandar, the process to build a new airport will take a long time with a tedious process. Instead, we are focusing on upgrading the current airport in Ipoh.
“We will look at the possibility of doing upgrades without affecting the structure. Discussions on the upgrades include airport runways and terminals.
“There are private companies that have expressed interest to invest in the airport and we will look at the partnership and consider all factors, including ensuring it won’t affect MAHB negatively,” Loke added.
On July 29, state infrastructure, energy, water and public transport committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said a 1,618ha plot of land near Felcra Nasaruddin, Seri Iskandar, had been identified for a new international airport project.On Sept 17, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state was expecting more flights from countries in Asia as it prepared for Visit Perak Year 2024.On another matter, Loke, who is DAP secretary-general, said all elected state representatives who fail to perform their duty would be replaced. He said elected representatives are given the mandate by the voters and should work hard, and not put the party to shame.
“In Perak alone, besides having two ministers and four state executive council members, we also have 99 local councillors and more than 100 village chiefs.
“The most important thing is to remind ourselves every day why we are doing this and to remember the responsibility we hold. That is the Key Performance Indicator and objective that they need to meet,” he said, adding that DAP has many potential new leaders.But these new faces must remember to work together with the current leaders, not against them, he said.
Also present were Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming, state PKR chairman Chang Lih Kang, state Umno deputy chairman Datuk Azian Osman and Perak Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
