THE Sarawak Forestry Department’s aerial surveillance unit is finally airborne.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg this afternoon unveiled the Sarawak aerial detection unit and its Austrian-built Diamond DA42 – MPP (multi-purpose platform) aircraft at the Hornbill Skyways hangar at Miri airport.

The purchase of the aircraft, which is loaded with high-tech sensors, was opposed by former PKR Sarawak vice-president See Chee How in July 2018

He lodged a police report against the state government over the alleged RM35 million purchase price for the aircraft, which he said was exorbitant.

See, the Batu Lintang assemblyman, who has since joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu after leaving PKR earlier this year, also lodged a similar complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

See said the price of the aircraft should have been between RM3.5 million and RM5 million, inclusive of the costs of all accessories. 

The funds for its purchase is from the federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The state Forest Department had submitted a proposal for its acquisition under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

The plane is f 

Abang Johari, in tracing the history of the unit said they started off in 2008 as the Systems Application and Development Unit.

Its role was to utilise high-end technology to map and conduct research on the state’s forests.

In 2014, the unit was used in combating illegal logging.

Abang Johari said it was at that point that the Forestry Department requested from the federal Natural Resources and Environment Ministry for funds to purchase the current aircraft.

“The implementation of this project is very significant because assets and expertise are shared for the whole country,” the chief minister said.

Since the aircraft is owned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, it could be deployed in any part of the country.

It can also provide geospatial information in the event of natural disasters like floods, forest fires, as well as border monitoring and for specific missions by other government agencies. – November 4, 2020.