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

KUCHING, Aug 28 — The Sarawak governments will invest RM30 million in upgrading the Long Banga and Ba Kelalan STOLports this year, following approval from the federal government. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah disclosed that RM15 million had been allocated for each facility under the Airport Development Fund. "We have just approved the allocation and, Insya-Allah, we want to start something this year," said Hasbi.

The upgrades will include terminal improvements and, where possible, runway extensions determined by site conditions. "We want our rural STOLports to also have a new look and be upgraded according to current needs," he added. Longer runways would allow the STOLports to accommodate more passengers, as Twin Otter flights are currently limited to nine passengers due to runway length constraints.

The federal government is also upgrading airports in Sabah and Sarawak, with the Miri Airport project currently in the design stage and exceeding RM400 million in cost. Combined, the airport upgrading projects in Sabah and Sarawak surpass RM1 billion, encompassing airports in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kota Kinabalu, and Sandakan. Meanwhile, the proposed new Lawas Airport is under the Sarawak government's Northern Region Development Authority (NRDA), with site preparation underway in Sundar.

Regarding the Bebuling STOLport, Hasbi mentioned that he had not yet received information on its planned landing test and pledged to find out.