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DRAMATIC news headline on 7 October 2024: “Tawau Airport to start RM130m revamp in 2025; Federal Cabinet to discuss upgrade plans for KK International Airport soon”. Best news on Sabah’s airports since time memorial. One of the worst neglects by the Federal Government in Sabah is the badly managed/maintained airports.

Thanks to Anthony Loke, Tawau airport will be given a much-needed boost of a RM130 million renovation/extension next year. He also mentioned in passing [no details which is worrying.] that he will present a plan for KKIA to the Federal Cabinet SOON!

Are Sabahans seeing the beginning of the end of our long suffering in badly underfunded, poorly managed airports? Time will tell.

TAWAU AIRPORT CAB BE VERY IMPORTANT.

Tawau/Semporna have great tourism potentials that could have been tapped years ago if the grave limitations of Tawau airport have been sorted out. Nearby are world class tourism destinations like Semporna/Sipadan Island, Maliau Basin, Tabin Wildlife, Borneo Rainforest.

Even before the arrival of tourists in numbers, the air cargo of sea products was piling outside the airport departure area every morning for years. Nobody in MABH bothered.

Now the airport has failed to cope just because of a few plane-loads of tourists coming! At time, the queue is meandering like a snake onto the airport road outside.

Can’t comprehend MABH’s failure to act when there is an obvious opportunity to make more money for itself. Too many sleeping beauties at the top! No wonder Anwar has to sought BlackRock’s help.

I understand that the State Government will initiate some investments to create new facilities in Tawau.

Expansion from 15,800 sq meter to 23,500 sq meter is likely to be a short-term solution. No big deal. Likely that the facilities would be inadequate soon. Nice if Anthony Loke can provide sufficient space for long term needs.

SOLUTION “SOON” FOR THE KKIA NIGHTMARE? HAS SABAH GOVERNMENT BEEN CONSULTED?

It was reported that Anthony Loke has mentioned in passing that he would present his plan for KKIA to the Federal Cabinet “SOON”. How soon is soon? No disrespect. I would request Anothony Loke to be specific. “SOON” can mean many things or mean nothing. Most “SOON” promises from Federal Leader mean nothing in the past.

Experience tells us that PMs and many Federal Ministers have come and go with slick tongues, sweet promises and flowery speeches. Result? For KKIA, only renovation for the toilets after fighting for years by Sabahans. Promises were forgotten the moment their planes take off at KKIA. Best “SOON “example of procrastination is the payment of 40% net revenue share under MA63.

Talk and talk only. And up to day, it is still all talk. Whereas, so much funding and many investments are pouring into Malaya. Many construction projects are being implemented. It is all happening in Malaya. Any investment brought into Sabah by Anwar in the 2023 and up to October 2024?

The funding of the “SOON” PLAN for KKIA should be much larger than the RM1 billion given to Penang airport. Logical reasons: [a] KKIA is a lot busier than Penang Airport. [2] KKIA is the gateway of Malaysia in Borneo. [c] KKIA has plenty more tourism potential for growth than Penang. [d] Tourism is already big in Sabah.

Christina has ambitious plan to grow it much bigger. [e] KKIA is Sabah’s one and only linkage to the outside world. [f] KKIA has the potential to be Malaysia’s 2nd aviation hub. 

Sabah must have a super-efficient KKIA, not a badly managed village airport.

I hope the Sabah Government has been consulted with this “SOON” PLAN to the Cabinet. Stop treating Sabahans like “The Federal Government know what is best for Sabah”. 

STOP MABH’S BAD MANAGEMENT. 

The Federal Government, in particular Anwar as PM and the Chairman of Khazanah [owner of MABH] and Anthony Loke as Minister of Transport, must kick the butt of MABH. They have already done it to MABH for its operation in Malaya. They should not allow poor management of the airports in Sabah to continue as it is shameful and dragging our country down. I have said it in my open letter to Anwar and I will say it again here: Any competent government would not, should not, must not allow MABH’s poor performance to continue.

PREFERENCE FOR SABAHAN CONTRACTORS 

The contract for the renovation of KKIA toilets has been awarded to non-Sabahans. MABH has not rebutted it. Damn insulting to Sabahans. Will the RM130 million extension of Tawau Airport be given to non-Sabahans? Will Sabahan contractors wake up and fight for the “SOON” PLAN for KKIA? 

Sabahan contractors should complain. Where are they? Why the silence?

MALAYA, THE FAVOURED SON. SABAH, THE UNWANTED CHILD.

The Federal Government must recognize that Sabah is 1/3 equal partner in Malaysia in its action. Mere words are meaningless. For years, the Federal Government has been planning and building infrastructures, financial, research and educational institutions for the future of Malaya.

Now Anwar is succeeding in attracting investment in semi-conductor [chip], big data and many other high-tech industries. He has many grand-designs for Malaya. What plan does he has for Sabah. I like to see one if he has it.

The Federal Government has always been the same irrespective of who is the PM or which coalition party is in Putra Jaya. Sabah has always been the “UNWANTED CHILD”. The Federal Government has NO forward planning or planning for the future for Sabah. Many ambitious plans for Malaya.

Sabahans are having to fight every inch for things to be done. All the time, the Federal Government would not move unless things have deteriorated very badly in Sabah like Tawau Airport. The Federal Government has never given thoughts on what KKIA needs for the next 10 years or 20 years. I hope Anthony Loke’s “SOON” PLAN for KKIA will not be just another “catch up” plan because the condition has become really bad. Hopefully, it will be very much better than a toilet upgrade.

Nothing personal against Anthony Loke. Sabahans are immune by talks. There have just been too many empty/broken promises from Federal Leaders. We don’t trust their ‘SOON” PLANS unless we can see piles in the ground. 

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my