Wednesday, May 16, 2012

ANOTHER WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE MAKING

Not learning from the experiences in Batu Berendam Melaka, the Perak government has called on the federal and neighbouring state governments particularly Penang to view favourably the proposed low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in northern Perak as an airport that complements rather than competes with other airports in their respective states. Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the LCCT, to be known as Utara Malaysia Airport Terminal (UMAT), was crucial in the overall development of northern Perak for which the state government has lined up ambitious plans. Politicans should just remain as politicians and look after the affairs of the state they are in power and not mess around trying to create projects that will ultimately be named in the hall of fame as ” white elephants”. The Batu Berendam Airport in Melaka is a good example. After a RM250 million upgrading the airport now handles only 3 flights a week. So the industry is asking the number one man in Perak not to worry about airports. Instead he should be more concerned about making the outskirts of Ipoh a more livable place.

2 comments:

  1. Where is the critial mass in Northern Perak that will suport this new airport. From southern Thailand ?

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  2. How many people would want to fly from Ipoh to KL or Penang? If it is AirAsia, you need two hours check in time before flight, MAS and Firefly 45 minutes. Hello, MB that without the flying time or any delay taken into considerations. People would prefer to drive, lah!

    What would be the load factor for each flight to any domestic destination from Ipoh? Unless the Perak state government is willing to subsidise 50% for the load factor for each flight, no rightful think airlines would want to fly to Ipoh unless the federal government is arm twisting the local airlines.

    The Perak MB should focus on helping the people in self supporting like imporving more tourism product infrastructures and the right promotion to attract week days tourists and not only the weekenders. Take his home ground for example, Lumut and Pangkor,it is only busy during weekends, what about the other five other days of the week?

    Don't waste the taxpayers money, there are more urgent areas that need help. Your boss Najib had said "People First", so please listen to him.

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