Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that a technical committee had been set up to accelerate the development of Kulim International Airport (KXP).

He said that the committee formed in Putrajaya at a meeting with Minister for Transport Datuk Seri, Dr. Wee Siong, last Friday included the State Government, the NCIA, and Transport Minister.

"This technical committee will make a recommendation for this working paper (regarding approval for the KXP project) to be presented again to the MPFN (National Physical Planning Council Meeting),” he told reporters at Wisma Darul Aman.

MOT then produces a plan that will be tabled for approval in the Cabinet before the project can proceed, he said following feedback from MPFN.

Muhammad Sanusi said that all MPFN proposals must be approved by the MPFN before they have been brought before the cabinet; however, the KXP proposal paper could not be tabled during the last MPFN meeting, as the NASP report had not been finalized by MOT.

A finalised NASP study is a prerequisite of any proposal for the construction of new airports to be considered.

The NASP study covers the development of all airports, as well as Short Take-Off Landing Airport (STOLport) in the country, to oversee their roles, airspace requirements as well as economic and strategic impact.