FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng has told off a local English daily for reporting an alleged fake news about the new Penang international airport bids.
Lim said the Transport Ministry, and both the Penang and Kedah governments have no knowledge of the so-called new airport proposals that were reported by the daily.
“The mainstream newspapers must not be a tool, weapon or private interest of any party just to obtain a front-page coverage.
“Be professional in journalism,” Lim told a press conference in Batu Kawan today.
He said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir told him that they were unaware of the ‘proposals’ to build a new airport in Seberang Perai.
When asked about the allegations by the daily that the ‘proposals’ were being sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, Lim confirmed the (news) report was false.
“It is a false report. Even the Federal Government does not have any knowledge of the project,” he added.
Lim reiterated the Federal Government’s decision, as stated in the 2019 Budget, was to expand the existing Penang International Airport (PIA) to a capacity of 16 million passengers yearly from the present 6.5 million passengers.
Story by K.Thaarshenii
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad