Malaysia to spend US$1b on improving airports

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA plans to spend about US$1 billion over the next five years to refurbish and expand its airports as the South-east Asian country paces infrastructure growth with a surge in passenger traffic, its main airport operator said.

"My main terminal may require some upgrade," said Badlisham Ghaza-li, managing director of state-controlled Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, referring to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. "There are other airports that have grown beyond capacity," including the tourist island of Langkawi, Kota Baru in the north and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, he said.