Kulim Airport plans should not have been shelved

KUALA LUMPUR - Pas vice president Datuk Idris Ahmad has criticised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's retabling of Budget 2023 as lacking balance between development in the East and West Coast of the Peninsula, in particluar the ommission of the planned hi-tech Kulim Airport.

“There should be a balance in terms of development between the West Coast and East Coast - not only what the Prime Minister mentioned just now, he said after attending the Budget 2023 retabling at the Dewan Rakyat.

“One more thing is about the development of the Kulim Airport. It should be continued for the benefits of the residents living in the North,” he said.

Under the revised Budget 2023 tabled by the Prime Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, there would be more allocations for the improvement of facilities at the Penang International Airport and Subang Airport.

The development plan will be led by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad and is expected to benefit the economic growth at much lower cost compared to building the new Kulim airport.

Meanwhile, when asked about the highest amount allocated for the Education Ministry, he said it was something that should be done.

“In terms of education, it’s a must. Regarding the welfare and stability, it’s something that we compromised since every government should have committed to that,” he said.

The Education Ministry has received the highest budget allocation which was RM55.2 billion, that is RM2.6 billion more compared to last year.