Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 14 -- Malaysia is pursuing a vision of becoming one of the Asia-Pacific's leading air connectivity hubs, supported by plans to expand capacity at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and establish more direct international routes, local media reported.

The connectivity drive would extend beyond Kuala Lumpur to key cities such as Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Stronger connectivity was essential for the movement of capital and goods, while helping deepen Malaysia's economic ties with major regional centres, Loke was quoted as saying by the New Straight Times.

He said Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong were less than four hours apart by air and shared the same time zone, w...