Ipoh airport set for revival with new regional flights - Star

By SYLVIA LOOI and CLARA CHOOI

IPOH: The under-utilised Sultan Az­­lan Shah Airport here will be revived again with the introduction of several regional flights.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the Ipoh-Singapore route had been approved for two air­lines; while one airline had been gi­­ven the green light for the Ipoh-Me­­dan sector.

“The air rights had been sorted out with the respective countries. The onus is on the airlines concerned on when they will start flying,” said Ong, who is also the MCA president.

Besides the two sectors, the Transport Ministry had also received applications to operate flights from Ipoh to Guangzhou, China.

“It is expected to be approved too. It is up to the respective airlines on the frequency of flights they wish to operate,” he told reporters after opening the MCA 60th anniversary dinner organised by Perak MCA here on Sunday.

Noting that transportation was con­­sidered a catalyst for growth, Ong said the Perak MCA was always involved with efforts to boost the economy in the state.

On extending the airport’s runway to accommodate larger planes, Ong said it might involve tedious land acquisitions.

The ministry, he added, was studying the alternative, which was to construct a new airport.

On another matter, Ong said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) had been instructed to follow up on land swapping with the Perak Government over the case of squatters staying on railway land at Kuala Sepetang and Simpang Halt.

Meanwhile, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the state government was waiting for a response from the Federal Go­­vern­­ment to its RM50mil request to extend the airport runway by 200m.

“I have written to the Prime Minister. As this is considered a high-impact project, I expect that he will respond to our request very soon,” he told a press conference af­­ter attending the launch of SMK Sultan Azlan Shah religious school’s 25th jubilee celebration yesterday.

Dr Zambry said that the runway extension would finally facilitate the landing of Airbuses at the airport.

On the intention to build a new airport, Dr Zambry said the state had identified two possible sites in Perak Tengah and Lembah Beriah.