Perlis is set to potentially have its own airport in Chuping, Padang Besar, as part of long-term development plans.
The proposal is included in the Draft Perlis State Structure Plan 2040 (Review), which encompasses five core pillars, 14 strategic directions, 65 planning strategies, and 256 implementation initiatives.
Chief Minister Mohd Shukri Ramli said the proposed airport would be located in Chuping, Padang Besar, and is expected to be completed by 2040.
“Based on the current planning, we are moving toward this goal, and God willing, it can be achieved. This aligns with the suggestion of Tuanku Raja Muda (Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail) that the airport be built bordering Thailand,” he said.
The aim is for the airport to serve both tourists and citizens from neighbouring countries.
Mohd Shukri made the remarks during the launch of the Publicity and Public Participation Program for the Draft Perlis State Structure Plan 2040 (Review) and the Perlis Smart City Plan 2030 at Dewan 2020. Present were Perlis State Executive Councillor for Housing and Local Government, Information and Digital, Asrul Aimran Abd Jalil; PLANMalaysia Perlis Director Dr Mohamad Sabri Ahmad; National Housing Commission (SPNB) Chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila; and Kangar Municipal Council President Affendi Rajini Kanth.
He added that beyond commercial purposes, the airport could attract investors to the state.
“Commercial purposes and attracting investors are the main goals. Commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 737 would be able to operate here once the airport is completed,” he said.
Perlis, along with Negeri Sembilan, is currently among the few Malaysian states without a commercial airport.
One initiative in the draft plan involves improving cross-border and domestic accessibility, with the proposed Perlis Airport in Chuping being a key project.
Other proposals in the draft include the Padang Besar–Perlis Land Port bonded road, an Electric Train Service (ETS) from Padang Besar to Johor Bahru, an ASEAN Express Freight Train from Kelana Jaya, Selangor to Chongqing, China (via a PIP spurline to Padang Besar), the Northern Corridor Expressway (Padang Besar–Bukit Kayu Hitam), the Kedah–Kuala Perlis Coastal Road, Sanglang Port, the Perlis Sentral Transit Hub, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) stations in Padang Besar, Bukit Keteri, and Arau, a new freight railway spur line, and an Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system.
Earlier, Mohd Shukri also presented the 2025 Perlis Mesra Rakyat Housing Offer Letters from SPNB to selected recipients.
