Airfields in Bukit Sadok, Bukit Mabong in study stage

THE airfield projects at Bukit Sadok in Betong and Bukit Mabong in Kapit are still at a feasibility study stage while physical works are expected to start in the third quarter of next year.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing said the projects, which have been approved by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, ranked highly in the list of projects that are being implemented in the 11th Malaysia Plan next year.

Masing, who is Minister of Infrastructure Development and Tansportation, said both projects would improve the rural air service ( RAS), which remains an important and essential mode of transportation to connect remote areas to other parts of Sarawak.

“In its continuous effort to uplift the socio- ecomomy and well- being of the rural people, the government is determined to further improve air connectivity to the rural settlements.

“The implementation of these airfield projects will enable agricultural and jungle produce from those remote places to be sent faster to markets in major towns of Sarawak,” Masing said in his winding-up speech yesterday.

On the stage bus service transformation ( SBST), with Kuching as among five cities selected for inclusion, Masing said the contract agreement was signed on Nov 22 last year between the federal government and Konsortium Bas Bandarraya Kuching ( KBBK) Sdn Bhd, an amalgamation of companies registered in Sarawak.

He told the august House that the consortium was expected to cary out the programme within five years after the date of contractual agreement.

Masing said the original plan was to use 130 diesel- powered buses to cover a total distance of 560km in 27 routes.

“However, in February this year, the Sarawak government came up with a recommendation for the federal government to consider having 100 per cent electric buses.”

He added that the new Pakatan Harapan government was now reviewing and reassessing all applicable procurement contracts as described in a circular from the Ministry of Finance in June.