Liow: Miri Airport extension completed to handle rising passenger traffic

Miri Airport in the northern region of Sarawak. 

PETALING JAYA: The Transport Ministry has announced the completion of the extension project of the apron and taxiway at Miri Airport.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pic)said the airport had 2.3 million passengers last year, exceeding its annual capacity of two million passengers.

“In the interest of the rakyat and for the comfort of travellers, the Government decided to upgrade the airport to accommodate this growing trend in passenger traffic,” he said in a statement on Friday.

The extension project cost about RM68mil. Liow said the ministry has proposed further expansion and upgrading work to be undertaken at the airport.

“The proposal is on the priority list for projects to be undertaken in the Second Rolling Plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan in 2017,” he said. He added that the proposal is expected to cost at total of about RM285mil.

These efforts, he said, are in addition to the RM700mil enhancement to Kuching Port’s capacity, the construction of the new Mukah Airport to replace the existing STOLport (short take-off and landing port) as well as the upgrading of facilities at Kuching International Airport.

“In order for Malaysia to achieve fully developed nation status, it is integral for our transport infrastructure to be world-class,” said Liow.

Source: The Star | Nation | 22 Apr. 2016