KOTA KINABALU – The long-standing proposal to relocate the congested Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) has regained traction after a photograph of a “signing ceremony” made rounds on social media recently.
The picture, which went viral, showed what appears to be an event between the state-owned investment arm, Qhazanah Sabah Bhd, and property developer Berjaya Land Bhd.
Based on the text on the ceremony’s backdrop, the airport will be moved to Kimanis, which sits some 45 minutes south of Kota Kinabalu.
The exact date of the signing ceremony was redacted, but other details showed it took place (or will take place) sometime this month.
Sources from Qhazanah Sabah, when contacted, confirmed the authenticity of the photo but did not reveal further details.
However, the ceremony saw Qhazanah Sabah chief executive officer Ahmad Rizal Dahli and Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan ink the undisclosed agreement.
Several sources told The Vibes that the photograph was of a “rehearsal” of the actual event, which is due to be held today, but it was unclear whether the press will be invited to the ceremony at the time of writing.
Later, The Vibes received an unredacted image of the said ceremony from a source who declined to be named. This time, the ceremony’s date is clearly shown to be June 30.
During his speech at the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) port declaration ceremony yesterday, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin also floated the idea of building an international airport in Kudat, some three hours away from Kota Kinabalu.
The other Sabah deputy chief minister, Datuk Joachim Gunsalam, said a proposed international airport in Lahad Datu was part of the state’s “Sabah Maju Jaya Halatuju” development agenda.
Asked to comment on Qhazanah Sabah’s role in the proposed relocation of the international airport, Joachim told reporters that the state investment arm was “tasked with looking for a suitable (parcel of) land”.
“KKIA is very close to the city and in the long-term, the government is now looking for a new airport,” Joachim said at the POIC ceremony.
In 2018, KKIA was already reported to have reached its maximum capacity of 9 million passengers, barely four years after undergoing major expansion and renovation works.
In 2017, the then tourism, culture, and environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun noted that a new airport was needed to address congestion issues at KKIA.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, KKIA was strategically located to tap into a market of 139.4 million visitors, serving up to 180 international flights a week.
Budget carrier AirAsia held the largest piece of market share at 49%, followed by Malaysia Airlines (36%), and Malindo Air (4%).
Meanwhile, netizens appeared divided on the relocation, with some claiming that the state could save taxpayers’ money if KKIA was expanded, instead of being relocated.
“Our road problems have not been resolved, but already we are talking about relocation of the airport,” said one social media user who only wished to be identified as Michael.
“Why not build better public transportation services like trains?”
Another social media user named Desmond said proposals on KKIA’s relocation date back to 1994, with the planned site being in the village of Benoni in Papar, which is near Kimanis.
Desmond noted that relocating the airport to Benoni would provide easier access to Labuan, as the current speedboat and ferry services to the island are located in Menumbok, which is only an hour’s drive away.
“However, the companies (Qhazanah Sabah and Berjaya) should have organised a press conference and should not have kept the public in the dark over the matter,” Desmond said. – The Vibes, June 30, 2022
