Community wants special privileges at Mulu airport
MIRI: The Long Terawan Council Action Community ( LTCAC) yesterday handed over a letter to Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd ( MASB) Miri manager Zainal Abidin Harun to request for special privileges by not imposing commercial charges on members of the community using its airport facilities in Mulu.
The group also requested MASB in Mulu to give the local community priority to operate the canteen which was operated by outsiders since it was opened years back and wanted MASB Mulu to consult the community if they do any works outside the Mulu airport fencing zone.
Led by their chairman Dennis Along and lawyer Abun Sui, they also handed over copies of the documents specifying the community has NCR over the land on which the Mulu Airport sits and the promise by the state government to pay compensation as was awarded by the Court in 2015.
“We want MASB Mulu and the higher authority to recognise the community living in Mulu and not to impose government taxes when using airport facilities,” Dennis told members of the media at Miri Airport yesterday.
Dennis hoped that Zainal Abidin will hand over the copy of the documents to the higher authority for further action.
Dennis also urged MASB to consider the plight of the villagers there as the airport is the only means for them to go to hospital and other areas by giving special privileges to the community.
He said currently villagers have to pay RM11 for airport taxes like other travellers, pointing out it is not fair for them as they are poor and, furthermore, the land on which the airport sits belongs to them.
“Now, we have a platform to voice our problems after Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government and recently we met the Transport Minister in Kuala Lumpur,” Dennis said.