Vincent Tan's Berjaya Group Wants To Build A New Airport In Tioman With Their Own Funds
Only chartered 12-seater single-engine flights are available at the current airport.
By John Lim — 08 Jun 2018, 12:01 PM
Business magnate Tan Sri Vincent Tan has reportedly offered a proposal to build a new airport in Pulau Tioman
It was reported by The Edge Markets that Tan, who is the group executive chairman of Berjaya Group, had submitted a proposal to the government on Thursday, 7 June.
New Straits Times (NST) added that the airport will help boost tourism in the island off the coast of Pahang.
The project was estimated to cost around RM1.2 billion
Malay Mail quoted Tan as saying that the project will be financed from Berjaya Group's internal funds and borrowings.
"We are looking for an infrastructure project and will propose to the government. We want to finance the project ourselves with loans from banks. We won’t burden the government.
"We are looking at the Tioman Airport project. We understand the country’s finances are not in the best shape now. We are willing to work with partners, to privatise and finance it, but the government can arrange it," he said as reported by the English daily.
The Malay Mail report also noted that Berjaya Group had previously arranged flights to the island until 2014
It halted operations after Malaysia suffered two major aviation incidents including MH370.
There had been plans to extend the airport runway at the diving hotspot a decade ago, but it was scrapped by then-transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat due to environmental concerns, as told by Malay Mail.
The airport project was later revived late last year under the BN-led federal government.
According to NST, the existing airport on Tioman, located next to Kampung Tekek, handled chartered flights which could carry about 12 passengers at any one time
