Sarawak’s Long Banga, Ba Kelalan STOLports to be upgraded this year with RM30m allocation

KUCHING, Aug 28 — The federal government has allocated RM30 million to upgrade the Long Banga and Ba Kelalan STOLports this year, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah announced. RM15 million will be allocated for each STOLport under the Airport Development Fund. Hasbi stated that the upgrades will encompass terminal improvements and runway extensions, contingent on site conditions.

Longer runways will enable the airports to accommodate more passengers, as Twin Otter flights are presently limited to nine passengers due to runway length constraints. The federal government is also upgrading airports in other regions of Sabah and Sarawak, with the Sarawak project in the design stage and involving over RM400 million.

The total allocation for airport upgrades in Sabah and Sarawak surpasses RM1 billion, encompassing Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kota Kinabalu, and Sandakan airports in Sabah. The proposed new Lawas Airport is currently under the Sarawak government through the Northern Region Development Authority (NRDA), with site preparation underway in Sundar.

Hasbi was unable to provide information on the landing test for Bebuling STOLport, as it falls under the state government's jurisdiction.