KUCHING: The Sarawak Government's decision to build a new international airport in Tanjung Embang will provide comprehensive economic benefits to the three surrounding districts.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said residents in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, and Serian will benefit economically as well as in terms of infrastructure development.

"Tanjung Embang is an area that borders the Asajaya constituency, and I believe, as the Sarawak Premier said earlier, the downstream impact of such a large-scale development is estimated to be around RM100 billion.

"I believe it will have a positive impact whether in Kuching, Kota Samarahan or Serian, benefiting everyone.

"The construction of this major project will further advance the Kuching Airport, infrastructure development, and the economy of Sarawak and Malaysia," he said.

He said this when met by reporters after attending the Opening Ceremony of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Southern Zone Delegates Meeting at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Sunday.

Present to officiate the ceremony was Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg accompanied by Sarawak Deputy Premiers, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as well as other top leadership of PBB.

Meanwhile, concerns from the public regarding the airport’s distance from Kuching city are not considered a major issue, as a new route to Kota Samarahan is expected to be completed soon.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim who is also PBB Vice President explained that the construction of the Sejingkat Bridge to Kota Samarahan will shorten the distance between the airport and the city centre.
    
“I do not consider the location to be outside Kuching, as I see it situated on the outskirts of the city boundary, although the area is still forested.

"However, it is very close because if we look at the construction of bridges and so on, from BCCK (Sejingkat), it will be very close to Kuching City,” he said.

Earlier in his address during the event, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari said another key factor in selecting Tanjung Embang as the site for the airport’s construction is to meet the requirement for aircraft to take off and land within Malaysian airspace. -UKAsnews