KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has expressed support for the construction of a new terminal at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), citing the inconvenience of relocating the airport to southwestern Kimanis or Tuaran.
Izzatul Aini, the information chief of Parti Warisan’s wirawati wing, stated that the party appreciates Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal for a new terminal at KKIA in response to the rapidly increasing passenger traffic.
“On behalf of Wirawati Warisan, I extend my appreciation to the Prime Minister, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and relevant Federal Government agencies that have taken notice of our objection to the relocation plan,” she said.
She expressed that Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, and Sepangar residents welcomed the announcement, as they do not wish to see the airport’s relocation, especially to Putatan, given that 60% of the labor force at KKIA is from this district.
Despite this, Izzatul urged the state government to clarify its position on whether it is still considering or scrapping its plans to relocate the airport to the Kimanis area, located about 60km from its current location.
“The state government is obliged to confirm the status of the KKIA relocation plan to Kimanis and whether it will still take place even after the announcement by the Federal Government,” she said.
She also called for clarity on the speculation that the state government was exploring the possibility of a site in the northern Tuaran district as an alternative site for the international airport.
Izzatul emphasized the importance of the state government providing clear communication to the people on this matter, particularly for business communities and airline industry players and their employees.
Earlier in September, Parti Warisan’s deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking had rejected the idea of relocating KKIA, suggesting that the airport be extended towards the sea to accommodate longer runways and additional terminals, similar to Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong.
Izzatul suggested that the Federal Government consider constructing a new airport at Sipitang as part of a strategic economic plan to revitalize the southwestern part of Sabah, which borders Sarawak, Kalimantan, and Brunei.
“Sabah already has airports at Sandakan and Tawau to serve the East Coast, so it would be sensible to build a new airport at Sipitang, as it can serve the people and students from surrounding districts,” she added.
She highlighted Sipitang’s potential as the new investment and trade center for the southern Sabah region.
