GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is urging the Transport Ministry, through Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, to speed up renovation works at Penang International Airport.

Lim said the airport's deplorable state was compounded by washrooms in bad condition.

"This does not reflect the airport's status as an international airport. It is important for us to project a good image to visitors and tourists who come here.

"We do not want the state's image to be tarnished just because of this. We are worried that it will be a factor to a decrease in the number of local and foreign visitors coming here," he added.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat had earlier stated that the last time renovation works were carried out at the airport was on March 1, 2001, costing RM39.7 million.

They covered expansion works and renovation of the building's terminal.