New international airport for Kedah

New international airport for Kedah

A new international airport in Kulim and a manufacturing and logistics hub near the industrial town are among seven mega projects costing over RM3bil that the federal government has announced for Kedah to make development in the state on par with that in more progressive states.

The other projects are two phases of the Northern Corridor Highway project over a 70km stretch; a digital library here; a petrochemical industrial park in Gurun; and the Kasih Ibu Darul Aman (Kida) programme.

Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali made the announcement after a special meeting with federal and state government officers and staff here yesterday, Bernama reported.

Also present at the press conference were Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Kedah State Secretary Datuk Ammar Shaikh Mahmood Naim.

Mohamed Azmin said the Kulim International Airport (KXP) will cost RM1.6bil; the manufacturing and logistics hub in Sidam, near Kulim (which is already home to a hi-tech park), RM300mil; the digital library, RM15mil; and the petrochemical industrial park, RM2mil.

As for Kida , he said with an annual allocation of RM30mil, the programme will assist 5,482 poor families in the state who will be issued a smart card with a value of RM400 to RM500 to buy basic necessities.

“Under the programme, women and mothers of poor households will be given the smart card. They only have to swipe the card to make purchases at the supermarket.

“The payment will be borne by the state government with the assistance of the federal government. We will implement the programme this year. It will be particularly helpful for poor families in Baling, Sik, Yan and Kota Setar,” he added.

Mohamed Azmin expressed optimism that the mega projects to develop infrastructure will draw foreign investors to the state and open employment opportunities for the locals, which will raise the state’s revenue and the people’s income. It is hoped that the development will make the state on par with the more progressive states.

He also said the government had approved an allocation of RM1.132bil as development expenditure for Kedah this year.

“It’s for 51 new projects and 201 project continuations,” he said.

~News courtesy of The Star~