RM55.6 mln to upgrade Sabah, Labuan airports
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAHB) has allocated RM55.6 million to upgrade the facilities of five airports in Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
MAHB’s Stakeholder and Regulatory Relations director Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha said the allocation was to upgrade facilities at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and the airports in Tawau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Labuan to accommodate bigger passenger capacity.
“Among the facilities to be upgraded are the in-line baggage holding system cleaning at the KKIA with no luggage scanning machines in front of the counter just like the one installed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Penang International Airport.
“We will also increase the number of international arrival immigration counter from the existing 10 to 20 that are expected to cost about RM800,000 to overcome the problem of passenger traffic, especially at night and the additional counters are expected to be ready later this year.
“In addition, we are also adding two more passenger boarding bridges and aircraft stands or aircraft parking bays to accommodate more airplanes at night and so on,” he said after a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal on Thursday.
During the visit, MAHB also said it was studying the upgrading of Tawau Airport.
“In a joint discussion with Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie, he advised MAHB to conduct further studies on the potential of Tawau Airport for tourism whether it could be used for direct flights and cargo,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, MAHB Planning and Development manager Mohd Shukri Ku Shaari also informed that the Sandakan Airport extension project had been approved by the federal government through the Transport Ministry.
“We have informed Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie about Sandakan’s propulsion project from 2,133 meters to 2,500 meters aimed at completing international direct flight requirements.
“The state government will review the project and inform MAHB about its decision later,” he said.
Also present was MAHB senior manager for KKIA, Sunif Naiman.