By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 9: Construction on the RM445 million Miri Airport upgrading project is expected to begin this year following approval of the revised project ceiling cost by the Federal Government.
Minister of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the increase from the earlier RM150 million allocation would allow all necessary upgrading works identified during preliminary assessments to be fully implemented.
“The project will involve expansion of the terminal building and aircraft parking facilities, alongside the upgrading of airport operations through enhanced digital systems and automated facilities including self check-in services and improved passenger processing systems,” he said in a recent statement.
The upgrades are also expected to improve operational efficiency, passenger comfort and safety standards, including full segregation of domestic and international passengers in compliance with Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) requirements.
Lee said Miri Airport currently handles about two million passengers annually and is expected to accommodate up to four million passengers a year upon completion of the project.
He added that the airport upgrading proposal had initially received approval in principle in 2017 but was later delayed following changes in the Federal Government administration.
According to him, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim subsequently approved an initial allocation of RM150 million during his working visit to Miri on Sept 28, 2024, after being briefed on the urgent need to upgrade the airport due to increasing passenger traffic, ageing facilities and Miri’s growing importance as the gateway to northern Sarawak.
Following the approval, the Ministry of Economy allocated RM3.2 million this year for preliminary works including soil investigations, building assessments, utility mapping and surveys to determine the project scope and estimated cost.
Lee said findings from a Value Assessment Laboratory conducted in February this year later identified the need to revise the project ceiling cost to ensure all upgrading works could be fully implemented.
He added that Miri Airport is Sarawak’s second busiest airport after Kuching International Airport and serves as a key hub for Rural Air Services (RAS), currently operated by AirBorneo, connecting urban centres with rural and interior areas across Sarawak and Sabah. — DayakDaily
