KUCHING (June 30): Works on two new rural airports in Sarawak, costing about RM264.9 million, will start once letters of awards are issued in August this year, Deputy Chief Minister II Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said. 

He said one of the airports will be built in Bukit Mabong, Kapit, which will cost RM173.5 million, while another, estimated at RM91.4 million, will be located in Bebuling, Spaoh in the Betong division.

“Bukit Mabong has been aptly selected as it is remote, sparsely populated with approximately 50,000 people and with significant accessibility issues, while Bebuling has been chosen to improve air connectivity with a key agropolitan centre in Bukit Sadok [in Betong],” he said in a statement today.

Apart from their economic feasibility, he said, the safety of their eventual users were also taken into consideration when finalising the projects.

Construction works are expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2023 and the move is set to expand the rural air service (RAS) network in the state.   

“The Sarawak government is in top gear towards its commitment to enhancing rural economic transformation and connectivity and safety of rural air services,” he added.

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