KUCHING: The location for construction of the new Sarawak International Airport has been finalised at Tanjung Embang after considering several key factors.
 
This includes the need for aircraft to take off and land within Malaysian airspace.
 
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said Tanjung Embang was chosen to avoid flights and landings passing through the airspace of neighbouring Indonesia, which could potentially lead to future complications.
 
“Initially, we planned to build the airport in Matang. According to international regulations on altitude, everything would have been fine.
 
“However, it would have involved another country’s airspace, meaning we would have to seek permission and pay certain charges because, in Matang, aircraft would have to land through Indonesian airspace, namely Kalimantan, which could lead to future issues.
 
“Therefore, we have selected Tanjung Embang as the location for the new airport,” he said.
 
He spoke to officiate the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Southern Zone Delegates Meeting at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Sunday.
 
Commenting on the acquisition of MASwings, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari hinted that Sarawak would have control over airfare prices, which were previously determined by other airlines.
 
“Relying on other airlines, ticket prices have always been high. Who would want to come to Sarawak if ticket prices remain expensive, and there are no other options as the prices are set solely by them?
 
“That is why we decided to acquire MASwings as a Sarawak-owned airline,” he said.
 
Also present were PBB Deputy Presidents, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, PBB Senior Vice Presidents, Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof and Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom, PBB Vice President, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, PBB Permanent Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, PBB Secretary-General, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, PBB Women's Wing Chief, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, PBB Youth Wing Chief, Miro Simuh, and other dignitaries. -UKASnews