Loke: MoT will supports KIA plan if licence submitted

The Transport Ministry (MoT) is prepared to support the Pahang government’s plan to build the Kuantan International Airport (KIA), provided that Pahang submits the licence application, said its minister Anthony Loke.

“Once the licence application is submitted, the ministry will conduct a traffic study to assess whether the proposed location is suitable as part of the National Airport Strategic Plan (NASP).

“This project is a private investment, not an initiative under the Ministry of Transport. Our role is to facilitate the process. The developers must first obtain approval from the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC).

“After that, any company or developer must apply for an aerodrome licence from MoT.

“This is the standard procedure applicable to all parties.

“As of now, I understand they (developers) are still in the process of applying for the licence, and once received, the ministry will proceed with the necessary steps,” Loke said, reported Malay Mail.

Originally scheduled to start last year and projected to open by 2026, the project has yet to begin construction.

Loke recognized the Pahang government’s intention to build a new airport, noting that the current Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport is on land owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM), which presents certain limitations.

“The Pahang government has long expressed its wish to establish a dedicated civil aviation airport. The existing airport faces constraints due to its shared runway with the Air Force.

“In the long term, building a dedicated civil airport would be beneficial and contribute to Pahang’s development as it would serve as a gateway to the East Coast,” he said

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail first unveiled the plan to build the KIA in October 2021.

NPPC gave preliminary approval, contingent on a detailed study by the state government.

On July 6, 2022, Wan Rosdy announced that the RM2 billion airport would be part of a larger aerospace city development in Gebeng. This project, covering 5,042 hectares, aims to drive significant economic growth in Pahang.