by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 8: Sarawak is set to develop Kuching’s new international airport into a next-generation hub, drawing inspiration from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport for its cutting-edge technology, sustainable design, and efficient operations.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and delegates from Sarawak visited the Zayed International Airport yesterday as part of the Sarawak government’s efforts to examine the best model in developing the new international airport in Kuching.
According to a news report by TVS, the Premier praised the architectural aspects as well as passenger management and the use of advanced technology that make the airport one of the best in the world.
“We have seen how Abu Dhabi has developed such a sophisticated airport, not only in terms of environmentally friendly architecture but also in terms of very efficient passenger management,” he said after visiting Zayed International Airport.
He noted that Zayed International Airport, certified under the Green Building Index, offers valuable insights for Sarawak, especially in terms of design integration with local identity. The future Kuching airport, he said, will reflect Sarawak’s history, culture, and heritage, while also leveraging cutting-edge systems.
“We are not only learning about architecture, but also about how operations management is carried out comprehensively. The capacity of this airport is 45 million passengers per year, while we planned to start with 15 million and will expand according to needs,” he added.
He also stressed on the use of advanced technologies during the development stage such as implementing biometric systems, facial recognition and the possibility of more efficient DNA identification technology for security and smooth immigration.
“Because Sarawak is still in the development phase, we have the advantage of starting with the latest technology without having to change the old system,” he said.
Abang Johari also said Sarawak is currently evaluating the best approach including potential collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“For example, we see the Abu Dhabi port model being implemented through a combination of the public and private sectors. This is also among our considerations for the development of the airport in Tanjung Embang. We want to choose the best model in terms of cost, implementation and effectiveness,” he added. – DayakDaily
