ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government today said its proposal to build a new international airport in Kulim was one step closer to reality, with the airport’s plans being approved by a federal town planning body.

Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the next step in fulfilling the state’s ambitions to build the proposed airport, codenamed KXP, is getting the federal Cabinet’s endorsement.

The Kulim international airport proposal was put on hold after Putrajaya said all plans to build new airports or expansion of existing ones would be carried out after the National Airports Strategic Plan (NASP) was completed in 2023.

“After six years, the proposed airport has taken another step forward by getting the approval of the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN), which evaluates all large-scale projects in the country.

“Congratulations to all who had worked hard in making this a success, ever since the airport was conceptualised. The next task is to get Cabinet approval,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Sanusi said he and state officials attended a virtual meeting of the MPFN from his office at Wisma Darul Aman here this morning. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Kulim international airport was mooted by former menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir. The initial costs for the construction of the airport was estimated at RM6.8 billion and it was proposed to handle 15 million passengers per year.

It was previously reported that the airport was to be located at a vast agrarian land at Sidam Kiri, about 40km north of Kulim, near Sungai Petani.