SANDAKAN: The upgrading work on Sandakan Airport which is expected to take off soon, will begin with the taxiway and apron areas prior to the runway extension.
Sabah Minister of Health and People’s Wellbeing who is also Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon (pic) said while pending approval on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, green light has been obtained to start work on the taxiaway and apron areas of the airport.
There are requirements to be fulfilled and procedures to be adhered to. We are a responsible and law abiding government and we have to ensure compliance of rules and regulations before undertaking the Sandakan airport runway extension in the interest of the local community and to avoid unnecessary future problems.
We sincerely hope the public can understand and bear with us as we are doing our best to carry out all the work as promised, Poon said.
Poon said in statement after Liberal Democratic Party criticised DAP for using the Sandakan Airport runway extension only to fish votes in the elections.
“During the 14th General Elections and Sandakan by-election, we have repeatedly mentioned the need to expand and upgrade Sandakan airport. The new government is only 19 months old, we have obtained funding for the Sandakan airport upgrading project.
What can be done is being implemented and what cannot be done now is because of pending certain approvals from the relevant authorities. There are rules and regulations required to be complied. We hope the public can understand the situation,” Poon reiterated.
DAP is a party that walk the talk. Although we face many challenges but we remain focus and true to our principle in serving our people. We will monitor and follow through the Sandakan airport project to ensure completion for the benefit of our locals, he added.
As announced recently by Deputy Chief Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew , 12 incoming chartered flights from Taiwan to Sandakan will commence in January next year bringing in an estimated 1,400 tourists to Sandakan.
Poon is confident that once the EIA report is approved and extension of airport runway is completed (expected to take one and a half years upon commencement of work for the extension of runway), more incoming chartered flights and tourists can be expected to visit Sandakan which will help to stimulate the Sandakan economic, generate employment opportunities and create multiplier effect, which will benefit our locals.
With regard to the temporary car park at the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Poon revealed that construction work is expected to commence early next year.
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