THE proposed expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA) may hit a snag with the question over who would run the airport if a private finance initiative (PFI) is involved.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the issue on who would be operating the airport would have to be resolved as the Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) currently holds the concession to do so.
“If it is to be a PFI, the company would want to operate the airport to get its returns. But currently, MAHB holds the concession,” Chow told a press conference today.
He said the issue was raised when he attended the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) meeting in Putrajaya yesterday, in which there was a discussion concerning the Ipoh airport expansion.
Chow said they were talking about how to give back the returns if the operations of the airport were not surrendered to the PFI company.
“The Penang airport expansion project will also be facing the same issue. I will be bringing it up in the coming Parliament sitting,” he said.
Story by K. Thaarshenii
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad