Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has urged the Sarawak Government to adopt a more immediate and practical approach, focusing on the expansion of the existing Kuching International Airport (KIA) instead of pursuing a new airport project.
He said the Federal Ministry of Transport has proposed an expansion plan with an estimated allocation of RM100 million for the expansion of KIA under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13).
“This is the answer that I have received from the Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke, to my question whether there is any plan on the part of the Federal Government to expand KIA under the RMK13,” he said in a statement.
Chong who is also Stampin MP said that in the written answer provided by the Minister of Transport, the Ministry has proposed the upgrading of KIA from the present 5 million passengers per annum (MPPA) capacity to 8 million passengers per annum capacity, with a projected allocation of RM100 million to be sought for in the first rolling plan of the RMK13.
“With this proposed expansion plan, that will increase the capacity of KIA by another 60%.
“However, it was also mentioned in the written answer that final approval of the expansion plan will depend on firstly, the availability of funds and secondly, the direction of the State Government, which is currently undertaking a feasibility study on the proposed new KIA,” he said.
He explained that the expansion of KIA, which costs RM100 million, can effectively serve Kuching for another 15–20 years, while the construction of a new KIA, estimated to cost another RM10 billion (one hundred times more expensive), stalls the plan to expand the current KIA.
“We know that Sarawak is rich, but there is still a limit to our wealth. We should not repeat the folly of the Federal Government under Tun Mahathir in the late 80s and 90s, with its uninhibited spending on mega-projects, which turned Malaysia into a debt-ridden country, burdening future generations with repayment,” he said.
Chong further stated that the State Government may want to proceed with building the new KIA rather than requesting an expansion of the existing KIA.
“While the proposed allocation of RM100 million may not pose a big hurdle as such a sum is very small compared to annual budgets of the Federal Government, it is the direction and intention of the State Government which may be a main impediment to the expansion of the existing KIA,” he said.
