LAWAS, May 30: The Sarawak government has begun acquiring land for the construction of the new Lawas Airport, with compensation for affected land owners expected to be disbursed soon, says Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
According to a news report today by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Awang Tengah thanked Ministry of Transport (MOT) Malaysia for approving the site for the new Lawas Airport.
“This is very important because the current airport is no longer able to meet needs, and even floods occur,” he explained.
He said this when officiating at the meet-the-clients’ day and closing ceremony for the “Keluarga Malaysia” (Malaysian Family) Licence Assistance programme organised by MOT at Taman Awam Lawas on Saturday (May 28).
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, also disclosed efforts to secure the site are underway, including compensating the landowners involved.
He described the “Keluarga Malaysia” Licence Assistance programme as a good thing, and the community should take advantage of this opportunity to obtain a driver’s licence properly and safely.
Meanwhile, Awang Tengah who is also the Sarawak Minister of International Trade, Industry, and Investment, expressed gratitude to the federal government for considering the State government’s proposal to prioritise road construction in Lawas District.
“We also request that the federal government prioritise the construction of roads from the Indonesian border to the Long Luping junction.
“Thank God, the federal government under the Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has given this attention,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Minister for MOT Malaysia and Lawas MP Dato Henry Sum Agong, MOT secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak, Federal Secretary of Sarawak Dato Amir Omar, Road Transport Department director-general Dato Zailani Hashim, acting Resident of Limbang Division Sebi Abang, political secretary to the Sarawak Premier Awangku Zainal Abidin Dato Pengiran Jawa, Lawas District Officer Ladin Atok, MOT senior management as well as the heads of various Federal and State agencies. — DayakDaily
