"Malaysian Official Not Aware of Floating Metropolis Airport Project"

Saturday, June 14, 2003

LING NOT AWARE OF FLOATING METROPOLIS AIRPORT PROJECT
Bernama - The Malaysian National News Agency


KUCHING, (Bernama) -- Outgoing Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong
Sik has denied any knowledge of a proposal by a Kuala Lumpur-based company
to build a floating metropolis, which includes an international airport, off
Tioman Island in Pahang.

Speaking to reporters here at the end of a two-day visit to Sarawak
yesterday, Dr Ling sounded surprised when told of the proposal by Joharbaru
Corporation Berhad, a Bumiputera company whose address is in Taman
Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur.

A floating airport was Dr Ling's reaction when asked to comment if such a
proposal had received government approval. "Is it possible?" he asked.

Recently, a group of travel writers visiting the islands off Mersing, Johor,
was briefed by Joharbaru Corporation executive chairman Ismail Md Said on
the proposed development of the Tioman Island Free Trade Area and Special
Economic Corridor (Tifta-Secor).

The briefing, also for a group of tour operators/travel agents from
Singapore and Malaysia, took place at Nadias Inn Comfort, Pulau Tinggi.

The proposal, which Ismail claimed had already received the blessing of the
federal government, involved industrial development plans for some of the
East Coast districts, improvement in maritime transportation, the commercial
development of Tioman as a duty-free island, manpower training of indigenous
island people, and a floating metropolis, including a new airport off
Tioman.

According to Ismail, the floating metropolis would incorporate an airport
with a capacity to handle 60 B747s and a shopping terminal with 200 hectares
of commercial areas to be occupied by banks, businesses, travel agencies and
entertainment centres, possibly including casinos.

Describing the project as similar to Singapore's Suntech City, he estimated
the development cost to be between RM10 billion and RM20 billion.

He said prospective investors from abroad had been identified, from whom
much of the funding was expected to come.

He projected a timeframe of between 10 and 15 years for the development of
the project, with initial ground work on some of the catalyst projects
defined within the Tifta-Secor commencing within the next three to four
years.

According to Ismail, the Cabinet approved the perspective plan at a meeting
in May.


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