SG BESI RMAF BASE CEASES OPERATION
Formerly known as Sempang Airport, it was the first airport to be built in country
AFTER operating for almost 77 years, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Sungai Besi has officially ceased its operation yesterday.
Once known as Sempang Airport, it was the first airport to be built in Malaysia and played an important role in air operations, particularly in the context of defence. It was also used as a commercial airport.
The airport, which has a 273m runway, was turned into a British Air Force Base on June 1, 1941, and known officially as the Royal Air Force (RAF) Station.
Its role was to facilitate air operations in the country and act as a communication hub with the British military base in Seletar, Singapore.
During the Japanese invasion in 1942, the base served as the RAF’s defence centre.
On Aug 1, 1956, then chief minister of the Federation of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj announced the base would be an international airport, and opened a new building which made it a commercial airport and an official air base for the use of the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (RFMAF) on June 2, 1958.
On Oct 25, 1960, the British officially handed over the air base to the Federal Government of Malaya to be used by the RFMAF (now known as RMAF).
Its function as Kuala Lumpur Airport was terminated in 1965.
It has since operated as RMAF’s flight squadron and air defence base.
The operations carried out by the Sungai Besi Air Base will be shifted to Sendayan Air Base in Negri Sembilan.
The relocation is in line with modernisation efforts and the upgrading of RMAF facilities.