KIMANIS Assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) should be relocated to Kimanis as a long term solution.
The feasibility study has been submitted to the Sabah Government and is pending approval to proceed with construction.
Yusof said the current KKIA has only one runway and occupies a 900-acre site, leaving minimal room for expansion.
He noted Singapore’s Changi Airport boasts three runways and covers 6,100 acres, indicating the need for a more spacious and modern airport infrastructure in Sabah.
While acknowledging Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s announcement regarding the upgrade of KKIA, Yusof said it may not be a long-term solution.
He emphasised the need for additional runways, luggage carousels, cargo handling facilities and a flying school to accommodate the increasing number of flights and visitors to the State.
He estimated the construction of the new airport facilities at Kimanis, 60km from the State Capital, would require around five years, followed by two years for flight simulations.
Yusof also urged the Government to ensure prompt payments to contractors for completed development projects in Sabah.
Despite the challenges posed by delayed payments, Yusof remains optimistic about Sabah’s economic potential, citing the RM1.004 billion surplus announced
by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
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