Lahad Datu to get chopper unit: Plan to move Hawk squadron to Labuan stays

Labuan: Plans to relocate the Hawk Squadron from Butterworth to here remain "unchanged" despite the present financial position of the government and the spending review announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Rozman Isli said he was informed that preparations were in progress to shift the Hawk Squadron.

Speaking after returning from Kuala Lumpur where he attended the national address on the revised Budget 2015, he said a company of 240 more personnel would also be stationed here to support the expanded operations of the RMAF base and the additional personnel would be quartered at Tg Bunga.

"Apart from the relocation of the squadron a helicopter unit would be based in Lahad Datu." he said.

From Lahad Datu, the choppers could respond more readily and assist in operations including search and rescue, said Rozman.

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He said this could be at request from Sabah and also since security breaches had occurred in the East Coast.

Regarding complaints by some quarters here including the Chinese and Indian Chambers of Commerce that the roar of the jets over roof tops could affect communications and cause disturbances in the International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC) Rozman said the squadron had been based in Butterworth and had never been a problem to residents.

"So, it would be positively viewed as it would further strengthen air support," he said.

He said Labuan had a RM500 million airport and it was under-utilised as a civilian airport. He said military flights would not have any effect on the status of the airport.

Under Budget 2015, it was tabled that the Squadron Hawk would be relocated here and RM50 million would be spent to upgrade facilities.

The Labuan RMAF base here had been in operation for years and the airfield was well utilised by jets landing during the days of confrontation with Indonesia. He said this had proven the suitability of Labuan for the squadron.

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Regarding the revised budget Rozman said the prudent spending would not affect wage earners and many others instead had a substantial saving for the government. It was realistic response from the government to present conditions.

He added that the re-scheduling of not critical assets purchases such as supplies, services, equipments and cutting down of expenses for professional services, meetings and travel would enable the government to focus on other areas.

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