This is from TheStar : Sunday January 13, 2013
SANDAKAN: The Federal Government has allocated RM70mil to upgrade Sandakan airport for the comfort of air travellers, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
He
said the project would, among others, involve the expansion of the
terminal building by 3,000 sq m, the improvement of facilities at
departure areas and waiting lounge, immigration counters, bag scanning
area and increasing the number of parking bays and the installation of
air-conditioning system for the entire building.
“It will start
as soon as possible this year after the draft plan is ready. Malaysia
Airports has given us the necessary input. The project will be ready in
18 months,” he said after making a working visit to the airport here
yesterday.
Kong said the project was needed as the airport
handled 820,000 passengers last year, or an increase of 5.8% from 2011,
and was set to further grow in future.
“If the trend continues to
rise at 6% every year, it is estimated that by 2020, this airport will
run out of capacity. With this upgrade, it will be able to fulfil future
needs,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Rahim Bakri, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong and Malaysia Airports managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad.
The
upgrade, said Kong, also reflected the Federal Government’s willingness
to spur development in Sabah under the Government Transformation Plan. —
Bernama
