By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 23: The long-awaited upgrading and expansion project for Miri Airport has now entered a crucial phase as authorities are now expediting the tender process, with construction work expected to commence by year-end.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report, Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the project has officially been approved with an allocation of RM445 million.
He said that the project is set to become one of the key infrastructure developments that will have a significant impact on the growth of Miri and the northern region of Sarawak.
Lee explained that while the initial RM150 million allocation was approved, it proved insufficient to meet the requirements for airport expansion, facility upgrades, and future development needs following detailed assessments and studies.
“Our department has undertaken extensive efforts with various agencies through comprehensive evaluations and detailed studies to ensure that the overall planning meets long-term development requirements,” he said to reporters after inspecting operations and new facilities at the Sungai Tujoh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) Complex on Friday (May 22).
He said the Miri Airport is vital as the main air transportation hub in northern Sarawak, serving as a key gateway for Rural Air Services (RAS).
As such, he said upgrading the existing facilities is essential to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and support future development needs.
Miri Airport is also Sarawak’s second busiest airport after Kuching International Airport (KIA). — DayakDaily
