Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO and TARRENCE TAN

       PUTRAJAYA has no plans to allow the sale or takeover of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (LTSAAS) by any private entities, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       He noted that LTSAAS’ operating rights and rights under the Leased Agreement granted by Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to operate, manage and maintain including to occupy, use and control remained valid until 2034 and 2067 respectively.

       “The government has no plans to approve the takeover or sale of any parts of the LTSAAS to any private business entities,” he said during his winding-up speech on Budget 2022 in Parliament yesterday.

       “MAHB is responsible for developing LTSAAS into an international aerospace hub as decided by the Cabinet on March 2, 2005.”

       Dr Wee was responding to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) and Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang), who asked whether LTSAAS was going to be sold to a private entity.

       Previously, it was reported that Subang Skypark Sdn Bhd (SSSB) was planning to acquire Subang airport.SSSB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WCT Holdings Bhd, whose largest shareholder is Tan Sri Desmond Lim Siew Choon.

       SSSB is proposing to enter a new concession to operate the entire area of Subang airport until 2092, developing it to be a city airport.

       Meanwhile, Dr Wee said the Rural Air Services (RAS) operations in Sabah and Sarawak would continue despite losses.

       “It is the government’s policy to continue the RAS operations for non-economic routes to improve accessibility of residents living in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak.

       “These services will be able to improve the living standards of the rural population in Sabah and Sarawak by increasing the mobility of economic resources,” he said.