• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

17/05/2000 Sultan Mahmud Airport expansion halted due to shortage of money Eirmalasare Bani THE expansion of Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu has been halted until the Terengganu State Government can find enough money to compensate owners of the land taken for the project. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik, who met Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, said the State Government claimed that it is currently a "burden" for them to pay for the land. The State Government however did not disclose the amount of compensation to be paid to the landowners, he added. "The old agreement has lapsed but both parties have agreed to continue discussions. We will revert the issue to the Economic Planning Unit as it is the coordinating body for the expansion project," Dr Ling told a news conference after the meeting. This is Abdul Hadi's first visit to the Transport Ministry. He was accompanied by nine state government officials, including State Secretary Datuk Senara Muda Mazlan Hashim and State Economic Planning Unit Director Tengku Datuk Hassan Tengku Omar. Dr Ling said both the Federal Government and Terengganu State Government have agreed a few years back that the latter will provide 86 acres immediate land for the expansion project and an additional 223 acres land for long-term need. The Federal Government, meanwhile, will pay for the expansion cost of the airport which is estimated at about RM300 million. On the part of the Federal Government, he said the contractors have been shortlisted and the Government is willing to proceed with the project "as soon as possible". The ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion project was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in November last year. The refurbishment works were scheduled to follow suit with completion slated in December 2001. Once the project is completed, the Sultan Mahmud Airport is expected to become the entry point for international flights to the east coast region. It is also hoped to bring in more investment to Terengganu, Pahang and Kelantan. The project, to be carried out in two phases, includes extending the airport runway to 11,500 feet, of which 3,800 feet are being extended into the sea to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747. It also involves the constructions of a bigger terminal building, two aerobridges, two visual dockings, wider taxiway and the upgrading of landing equipment and larger carpark with 400 bays. The old control tower would also be demolished and be replaced with a new state-of-the-art facility. On another development, Dr Ling said an Environmental Impact Assessment study will be carried out to determine whether a runway should be built on Pulau Redang to accommodate small aircraft. This is to ensure that any development carried out will not endanger the protected marine life on the island. Dr Ling also announced yesterday that Petronas has agreed to extend its railway development to link Kuantan Port in Pahang and Kemaman Port in Terengganu. Petronas, a major investor in petrochemical ventures in both Terengganu and Pahang, is carrying out a 72km single-track line which will link Kerteh Petrochemical Complex in Terengganu to the Kuantan Port with a direct connection to Gebeng Industrial Estate in Pahang. The rail link will have two diversions, one to link Kemaman Port at the 33km to the Kerteh Petrochemical Integrated Complex, and a second one at the 66km to link Gebeng Industrial Estate with Kuantan Port. The development of the dedicated rail link is aimed at fostering the development of petrochemical industries in the eastern corridor on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Linking both ports to industrial sites by rail can also facilitate the movement of large shipments of cargo generated from the petrochemical manufacturing ventures. (END) .

Load more

  2

Copy Link