MIRI: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Km Shin hopes the federal government will prioritise the upgrading project for Miri Airport.
He said the proposal had submitted to the Economic Planning Unit and that the project cost about RM60 million.
“We have been waiting for the upgrading of the airport for almost seven years since 2016, ” Lee said on Monday after inspecting the newly completed junction to Vista Perdana Permyjaya.
He disclosed plenty of proposals to upgrade Miri Airport were submitted to the previous government but there was no response.
“At the last meeting held in 2021, we discussed with the Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) to put up proposals for immediate upgrading and long term plan costing around RM285 million,” he said.
Lee added the upgrading of the airport was crucial for Miri as his ministry was expecting a surge in the number of passengers coming here in years to come.
“Miri is not only a tourist destination. Those working in the oil and gas industry are also coming here as Shell Malaysia Berhad is relocating its headquarters from Kuala Lumpur to Miri by end of this year,” he told the local media.
He hoped that once the project was approved, work could start this year.
Recently, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah disclosed that the ministry (MOT) is planning to upgrade Miri Airport and a proposal had been submitted to the Economic Planning Unit for consideration.
