[UPDATED] Kota Kinabalu airport to be relocated to Kimanis: state investment arm

KUALA LUMPUR – Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) will be relocated from Petagas to Kimanis after state investment arm Qhazanah Sabah Bhd sealed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Berjaya Land Bhd. 

The proposed location would be about 59km from Kota Kinabalu city while Qhazanah said a study would be done before the plan is realised.  

It said the signing of the MoU with Berjaya Land covers the relocation of KKIA, involving the construction and development of a new international airport in Kimanis, alongside a sustainable plan in the new site or any other land deemed suitable by the state government.

However, a special purpose vehicle will undertake the proposed project, it said. 

The government-linked company, however, did not reveal whether it would be an entity comprising subsidiaries or workers from Qhazanah and Berjaya Land. 

Qhazanah chief executive officer Ahmad Rizal Dahli said the relocation and construction of the new international airport would come after all stakeholders have reached a consensus on the plan.

“The relocation of the KKIA has been suggested in various discussions for a decade. This MoU now will allow us to look at this in more detail, particularly economic viability and social impact details,” said Rizal, adding that a feasibility study will be conducted.

Rizal said the operations expansion of the current KKIA will be unlikely due to limited land area and its location, which is privately owned.

He added that is it is possible to have more than just a terminal and runway at the new location in Kimanis. 

“Sabah will be able to leverage its location in Southeast Asia to become a regional aviation hub.”

Qhazanah’s response came on the heels of a photo of what appears to be a rehearsal of the MoU signing ceremony held in an undisclosed location yesterday. – The Vibes, June 30, 2022