Need to upgrade Sabah airports: Shafie
Published on: Saturday, January 04, 2020
By: Winnie Kasmir
File photo from Bernama.
AIRPORTS in Sabah need to be upgraded to enhance the economy and tourism sector, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.He said the State was still facing constraints in the export of sea produce by air as facilities such as cold storage warehouse at the airports were lacking.
ADVERTISEMENT
“However, I was informed that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance is looking at upgrading the airports in the State,” he said.
Citing Tawau and Sandakan, Shafie said both places are famous for seafood but have no freezing facilities at the airports to facilitate the export of fresh sea produce to places such as Hong Kong and China.
“I believe the upgrading of airports will not only stimulate the tourism sector but also enhance the economic growth in terms of sea products exports,” he said after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sandakan Airport runway extension project, in Sandakan, Friday.
Also present were federal Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, federal Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook, Minister in Prime Minister Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong, State Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon, State Youth and Sports Minister Phoong Jin Zhe, Ministry of Transport Head Secretary Datuk Isham Ishak and Sandakan MP Vivian Wong.
ADVERTISEMENT
In thanking the Federal Government, Shafie said this was a pledge made by the Government during the Sandakan by-election last May. He said the federal Finance and Tourism ministries were also looking at upgrading the Tawau Airport, including placing freezing facilities for seafood products.
“So the upgrades in Sandakan and (eventually) Tawau will not only spur the tourism sector but also other industries like the seafood sector.”
ADVERTISEMENT
He said a good transportation system would enable investors to explore opportunities to expand their operations in the country.
Earlier, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook said the upgrading work would also involve improvements to the radar system and the extension of the Sandakan Airport runway from 2,133 metres to 2,500 metres.
“When the expansion is completed by 2021, bigger planes will be able to land comfortably here,” he said.
Loke said at the moment, most of the direct flights to Sabah from other states and countries usually come to Kota Kinabalu.
“Flights to Sandakan and Tawau have to go through Kota Kinabalu first. But if there are better facilities and runways, we hope we can have direct flights from, for instance, Sandakan to Hong Kong and Tawau to China.
“These are among the countries that have a high demand for seafood products, especially from Sabah’s East Coast,” he said.
He added that logistics companies had been urged to invest more, particularly in Sandakan and Tawau.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport, through the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), is in the process of replacing and repairing the Air Traffic System at Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Region (for Sabah and Sarawak).Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
