PUTRAJAYA is in the process of appointing a consultant on the expansion of Sandakan airport, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

The appointment will be finalised next month with the Finance Ministry, Loke told the Dewan Rakyat today.

The expansion and airport upgrade will include extending the runway to 2,500m from the current 2,133m.

The project will also include a new connecting taxiway, reconfiguring and expanding the hangar as well as the installation of the precision approach light and other related works. 

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) has to be prepared, given the area’s topography which includes a river and a wetland, Loke said.

The project, which is slated to take 18 months, is expected to be completed in 2021.

To a supplementary question by Henry Sum Agong (PBB-Lawas) on the status of the proposed Lawas airport to replace the current site, which is flood-prone, Loke said the ministry will look into it.

Agong said the proposal was approved by the previous government.

“I am aware that there is an application but any decision will have to be thoroughly scrutinised by the technical team – that is, the Civil Aviation Authority – and be brought to the finance minister for approval.

“I realise that the former government made a lot of promises. This was only to win the elections but there are a lot of promises which were done without doing taking into account the due processes,” Loke said, urging Agong to be patient as the proposal will also be reviewed by the Finance Ministry and Economic Affairs Ministry. – July 16, 2019.